Volatile applications against pathogens

A method of using a volatile antimicrobial compound against pathogens affecting one or more seeds, the method comprising:

• providing a volatile antimicrobial compound of formula (IV), or a salt thereof:
• wherein A and D together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered fused ring which may be substituted by C1-C6 -alkyl, C1-C6 -alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, nitro, nitrile, amino, amino substituted by one or more C1-C6 -alkyl groups, carboxy, acyl, aryloxy, carbonamido, carbonamido substituted by C1-C6 -alkyl, sulfonamido or trifluoromethyl or the fused ring may link two oxaborole rings;
• X is a group —CR7R8 wherein R7 and R8 are each independently hydrogen, C1-C6-alkyl, nitrile, nitro, aryl, arylalkyl or R7 and R8 together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form an alicyclic ring;
• and
• R6 is hydrogen, C1-C18 -alkyl, C1-C18 -alkyl substituted by C1-C6 -alkoxy, C1-C6-alkylthio, hydroxy, amino, amino substituted by C1-C18 -alkyl, carboxy, aryl, aryloxy, carbonamido, carbonamido substituted by C1-C6 -alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl, arylalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, C1-C18 -alkyleneamino, C1-C18 -alkyleneamino substituted by phenyl, C1-C6 -alkoxy or C1-C6 -alkylthio, carbonyl alkyleneamino or a radical of formula (V):
• wherein A, D and X are as defined herein before;
• and
• contacting the one or more seeds with the volatile antimicrobial compound.