Understanding the Agrobiology of

Agrochemical Formulations
Fungicide Formulation and Mode of Action
 FUNGAL PATHOGEN BIOLOGY

Fungal Plant Pathogens

Kingdom Eumycota / Mycota Kingdom Protista

True fungal pathogens Fungus-like pathogens

Phylum Zygomycota Most Phylum Dikaryomycota Cell Phylum Phylum Oomycota Phylum
primitive of the terrestrial walls contain chitin. Produce Chytridiomycota Oomycetes cell walls Mycetozoa
fungi. airborne spores. contain cellulose;
flagellated
(swimming) spores.
Olpidium Synchytrium Brefeldia
Rhizopus
brasseicae endobioticum maxima

Subphylum Ascomycetes Subphylum Basidiomycetes
form (asco)spores in sacs bear their (basidio) spores
(sac fungi) through sexual externally, on a structure called a
reproduction. Some can basidium (club fungi). Generally
be cultured on media. asexual reproduction; obligate
(most can’t be cultured on media)
Saprolegnia sp.
Pythium (water mould)
Subphylum Deuteromycetes Peronospora
(Fungi Imperfecti, an artificial Phytophythora
grouping of the asexual
stages of fungi from the
Dikaryomycota). Can often
be cultured on media.

Botrytis Smuts & Rust Fusarium

Verticillium Rhizoctonia (damping off) Septoria
Erisyphe Typhula (=Sclerotium, snow Alternaria
mould)
 FUNGAL PATHOGEN BIOLOGY

Spore Mycelial
germination Penetration growth Sporulation
Soybean Rust

I.

Spore
Germ tube
Appresorium
II.

Hyphae / mycellia
INFECTION AND COLONIZATION BY I) BIOTROPHIC AND II) NECROTROPHIC Septoria
PATHOGENS.
 FUNGICIDES – APPLICATION TIMING

Protectant Curative Eradicant

Infection Symptoms Sporulation

Contact fungicides Locally systemic Systemic fungicides

Contact fungicide characteristics Systemic fungicide characteristics

Benefit Broad spectrum Benefit Lower doses
Multi-site (less resistance More UV- & rainfast, efficacy 14-28d, few
Low residues (MRLs) applications
Can have translaminar effect
Challenge High doses
Less UV- & rainfast, efficacy 3-10 days Challenge Narrow spectrum,
More applications Single-site, greater resistance
Phytotoxicity on penetration Medium to high residues (MRLs)
Phytotoxicity from systemic accumulation
Opportunity Increase efficacy (reduce rates) - Opportunity Optimize uptake kinetics, compatibility in
rainfastness, optimize distribution, mixes, synergies, reduce phytotoxicity
reduce phytotoxicity
 FUNGAL PATHOGEN BIOLOGY

PLANT CELL FUNGAL CELL

Cell
Cellulose wall Chitin (cellulose)

Nucleus

Chloroplast

Mitochondria

Cytosol

Vacuole

Phytosterols Ergosterol
Cell
membrane
 FUNGICIDE MOA – CELL WALL & MEMBRANE INHIBITORS
Tebuconazole
DMI (demethylation Folicur 250EW

Squalene
inhibitors) Flutriafol
Cell 1. IMIDAZOLES: thiobendazole, Impact 125SC
carbendazim, prochloraz – Epoxiconazole
membrane Botrytis, Septoria, Fusarium Opus 125SC
(ergosterol) 2. PYRIMIDINES
3. TRIAZOLES: Protective;
Propiconazole
Tilt 125SC
(Curative); leag greening
Rust > Septoria > (Erysiphe) C14
Resistance - single site-of-action demethylase

Combat resistance by
introducing additional sites-
of-action, increase effect
against Erysiphe and reduce
total cost of application.

Mitochondria Inh. of steroid reduction

MORPHOLINES: Δ14 reductase
Protective; (Curative)
Fenpropidin Tern 750
Erysiphe > rust Fenpropimorph Corbel
Two sites-of-action 750EC
Inh. of steroid isomerization
Δ8-Δ7 isomerase
Cellulose

Ergosterol
biosynth.
Cell wall inh.
Chitin (cellulose) Oomycetes
partially systemic
DIMETHOMORPH
 FUNGICIDE MOA – RESPIRATORY INHIBITORS

CARBOXAMIDES
Botrytis
Boscalid, Bixafen

Cyazofamid Residual
Oomycetes

Mitochondria

STROBILURINS PYRIDINES Protective

Protective; some curative (spore germ. &
mycelial growth, residual. Leaf greening
Septoria > Rust > (Erysiphe)
Kresoxim methyl Mentor KrM150
Azoxystrobin Amistar 250SC
Pyraclostrobin Comet 250EC
Contact, good residual effect
Mildew, blight & moulds
Fluazinam Shirlan, Foliar.
DP, WP, SC
 FUNGICIDE FORMULATION – SYSTEMICS (ERGOSTEROL & RESPIRATORY)

Other

Respiratory

3,4,5,6 Multisite

Ergosterol
1,2

GROUP FAMILY AI logP FORMULATION ADJUVANTS ACTIVITY MODE OF ACTION

Systemic, xylem
Generally not required; Inhibition of sterol
DMIs 1. Triazoles Flutriafol 2,3 FS SC EC (protectant, curative,
(NIS) - phytotoxicity! biosynthesis in membranes
eradicant)

Systemic, xylem
Carboxylic acid Inhibition of sterol
2. Morpholines Fenpropidin 2,9 EC NIS; (spray oil) (protectant, curative,
amides biosynthesis in membranes
eradicant)

3. Oxathiin Not required (seed

Carboxin 2,3 FS SC WP Systemic (xylem)
carboxamide dressing)
SDHI (Succinate
4. Pyridine Systemic (xylem) - Inhibits mitochondrial
dehydrogenase Boscalid 2,96 WG SC Not required
carboxamide protective & curative respiration (SDHIs)
inhibitors)
5. Pyrazole Systemic - protective &
Fluxapyroxad 3,13 FS EC Not required
carboxamide curative
QO, complex III Systemic (xylem),
Generally not required; Inhibition of mitochondrial
(ubiquinol 6. Strobilurins Azoxystrobin 2,5 GR WG SC SE protectant, curative,
NIS (!phytotoxicity) respiration (QO)
oxidising site) translaminar
 SUMMARY (FUNGICIDE FORMULATION & ADJUVANT STRATEGIES)

Fungicide a.i., adjuvant and formulation choices are

based on:
• Pathogen biology – true fungi vs. oomycetes
• Uptake – contact, systemic or translaminar mobility
• Timing – protective, curative or eradicative
• Solubility – hydrophilic or lipophilic
• Mode of action – spores (protective; respiratory) or
mycelia (curative; ergosterol)
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