Fungicides

Fungicides are substances used to eliminate harmful fungi and their spores. These fungi can cause significant harm to crops, leading to substantial losses in yield, quality, and profits for farmers. Fungicides play a crucial role in both agriculture and in combating fungal infections in animals. They are also effective against oomycetes, which, despite not being fungi in terms of taxonomy/genetics, share similar methods of infecting plants.

There are different types of fungicides: contact fungicides, which protect only the area where they are sprayed; translaminar fungicides, which move from the sprayed upper leaf surface to the lower unsprayed surface; and systemic fungicides, which are absorbed by the plant and redistributed through its vessels. While some fungicides move throughout the entire plant, others are limited to specific parts.

Fungicides available for retail purchase are typically in liquid form, with the active ingredient present in concentrations ranging from 0.08% for milder solutions to 0.5% for more potent fungicides. Additionally, powdered fungicides usually consist of around 90% sulfur.