Do you know fungicide?
Do you know systemic fungicide?
Of all the microbial diseases leading to low farm yield, and reduction in income of farmers, fungi infections alone account for 70 – 80%.
Although it is imperative to state that not all fungi are pathogenic, however, there are more pathogens from fungi compared to other microorganisms such as bacteria, virus.
If left untreated, fungi infection can ultimately damage the plants and reduce its market value, thus the need to continually eradicate the spread of the epidemic in the case where prevention is inevitable.
Fungicides have proven to be highly effective in killing harmful infections caused by fungi,
and as such, we have come with a comprehensive lecture on how to employ the most suitable fungicide for our plant growth as a farmer.
Also, for importers of agrochemicals especially those importing systemic fungicide from China, this guide will show you how to know which fungicide is best for your region.
What are Fungicides?
Fungicides are chemical substances that are explicitly used for killing or inhibiting the growth of fungi, fungi spores, and their infections.
Fungicides are also characterized as pesticides but with the particular function of eliminating the impact of diseases caused by fungi.
Classification of Fungicides
Even if you are the most experienced of farmers, occasionally, you would struggle to identify which fungicide will work best for you.
This is because many factors such as the soil type, temperature, age of plants and the type of fungi infection have to be considered for your fungicide selection process.
In the classification of fungicides, there are several characteristics used.
They include;
Plant mobility
Plant mobility has to do with the absorption and movement of phytotoxic in fungicides.
This category is sub-divided into two; we have contact and systemic fungicide.
Contact fungicide also called protectant works by killing the fungi when it comes in contact.
Also, it prevents other pathogens from penetrating the tissue of plants.
However, there is a need for repeated application as the new shoots are left unprotected.
Contact fungicides are faster in action since they kill the pathogen the moment they come into “contact” as the name implies.
However, their mode of action is very restricted; thus, the need for a superior one, which brings us to the systemic fungicide.
Other modes of classification are through protective role (preventive and curative), the area of activity (single site and multisite), mode of action, breadth of activity (narrow and broad spectrum), type of chemical used as ingredients (organic and inorganic).
What are Systemic Fungicides?
Systemic fungicides otherwise called mobile fungicide or penetrants are those which are required to be absorbed into the plant before they can be effective.
There are locally systemic fungicides that close to the site of application within the plant.
Other locally systemic possess a translaminar mode of action. This implies that they move through the leaf and from one side of the leaf or across a leaf blade to the other parts.
For you to enjoy the full function of systemic fungicides, the plants are required to be in a growth phase so that the fungicide can be absorbed and circulated through the plant in order to control diseases.
In systemic fungicide, the new shoots are protected, but only for a short period.
In contrast to contact fungicide, systemic fungicides can suppress diseases even after the plants have been infected.
Also, systemic fungicide can further be classified into various categories based on their level of mobility.
- Local systemic
They can only move within a short distance from the area of penetration
- Weak Systemic
Their movement can reach all the parts of the leaf the fungicide is absorbed.
- Xylem-mobile Systemic
A few other systemic fungicides have an extensive movement as they enjoy great mobility in xylem tissue.
When you apply such fungicides to the root zone, the root absorbs them, and they undergo upward movement within the plant in the transpiration stream.
Although xylem-mobile systemic move throughout the plant, nevertheless, they cannot be redistributed outside of the leaf.
- Phloem-mobile Systemic
Otherwise called true or amphimobile systemic, this systemic fungicide possesses bi-directional mobility.
They can move out of the leaf, that is the site of application to other leaf parts.
Also, they can move the root downwards.
However, you should note that regardless of the category, all systemic fungicides fail to move again the moment translocation is completed.
Examples of Systemic Fungicides
Notable examples of systemic fungicides are includebenomyl, cyproconazole, azoxystrobin difenoconazole, carbendazim, and propiconazole.
How Systemic Fungicide Works
As we briefly mentioned earlier, systemic fungicide works by destroying the fungus responsible for the infection or restricting their activities on the plant.
When systemic fungicides are absorbed by the leave of plants, automatically, the fungi pathogens nesting on the plant will also absorb the toxins in the fungicide which will, in turn, kill or suppress their destructive activities on plants.
Benefits of Systemic Over the Other Types
Despite that, all fungicides work in destroying the spread of fungi infections.
However, systemic fungicides will offer you specific advantages over the other types of fungicides.
Some of the benefits of systemic fungicides include;
- Internal Protection of Plants
Unlike contact fungicide which only protects the plants externally, systemic fungicide offers internal protection because they are absorbed by the leaf of plants.
- Curative Disease Control
While contact fungicide can only kill or eliminate the activities of pathogens, systemic fungicide has an apparent advantage in that they can prevent some fungi infections, when applied and absorbed by the root or leaf of the crops.
- More environmental friendly
Because translocation occurs in systemic fungicide application, there is a lesser threat to the environment as these fungicides are readily biodegradable by plants.
- Enhanced physiology on crops
Systemic fungicide can improve the functioning of plant parts especially when it comes to breaking the resistance of some fungi infections.
- Only required in the little amount
Just a low volume of systemic fungicide is required to derive a maximum impact it fungi elimination and control.
Thus, using systemic fungicides as a farmer will help you to save money, and thereby increase your earnings.
- Extended impacts on plants
The effect of contact fungicide is only for a little time until they are washed away or lose their effectiveness,
but in systemic, the effect may continue for a more extended period after the application.
This will, in turn, offer a more extended protection.
- Translocation to hidden plant parts
This is arguably the height of benefit of systemic over contact fungicide.
When fungicides or other chemicals are applied to crops, there is no way that all the leaves will come into contact with the chemical as some will be shielded while others will be accidentally omitted.
The translocation that occurs in systemic fungicide helps to guide against this.
- Less prone to photodegradation and rain wash
When you apply another type of fungicide, contact for example, for them to be effective, they have to be on the affected plant part.
However, rainfall and photodegradation may occur before contact fungicide exerts their full effect which will waste the fungicide.
If applied in an excellent weather condition, systemic fungicides can be absorbed within minutes of application.
Even if there is rain wash, the plants would have already assimilated it into their system.
Choosing the Best Systemic Fungicide
Planting season is often challenging one to farmers and other farm professionals.
During an outbreak of fungi infection, it may be challenging to know which fungicide to use in curbing the spread of the infections.
Here are various factors you should consider before you make your decision to use systemic fungicide;
- Understand the cause
There are hundreds of fungi that are pathogenic to plants.
Anytime you experience a break out of fungi diseases in your farm, the first thing you need to find out is to identify which specific fungi are responsible for it.
After that, you can know which systemic fungicide will be more effective for such infections.
- Compare previous performance
Certain diseases are more pronounced in one region than the other. For instance, a fungus can be harmless in the temperate and pathogenic in the tropic.
You have to check the performance of such fungicide in your region.
Ask your colleagues, certified plant pathologist, and professionals for a guide on the best systemic fungicide for your locality.
Testimonials are not sufficient; on-field research and results must back them.
The effectiveness of such fungicides must be available for verification.
- Advertisem*nts can be misleading
The goal of many businesses is to increase sales and make a profit while some systemic fungicides live up to their bidding, some brand which enormous publicity may not show the same level of efficacy.
Take time to carry out in-depth research before you decide on which systemic fungicide to import or purchase.
- Read the label
Fungicide products labels contain all the necessary information regarding the active ingredient, mode of action, the direction of use and the specific plant the fungicide work best for.
You must always take time to be sure that you are familiar with all the information you need before you decide to ship with your home nation.
Try to know what works best for you region before you proceed to buy.
- Best Value for Money
The price of fungicide can play a vital role in which brand to purchase.
The cost of applying a systemic fungicide can take its toll on the income of farmers.
While prices are no indication on the efficacy of the fungicide, however, there is a need to maintain a balance.
If you are an importer, try as much as possible to the only ship in fungicides that will offer the best value for money to your customers – the farmers, planters, and growers.
Here are some of the factors to put into consideration while selecting the type of systemic fungicide to import as a shipper or to apply as a farmer.
How to Import Systemic Fungicide from China
China remains one of the choicest destinations when it comes to the importation of agrochemicals.
After you have done your researches and you have arrived at the best fungicide for your region, the next thing is to choose the brand with quality.
Then you need to select the seller that will offer you the best value for money.
If you want the company that makes buyingfrom China a very seamless process, you can count on Awiner to give you the best services.
We have been helping hundreds of companies handle all their pesticide purchase processfrom China to places such as Yemen, Kenya, Ireland, Afghanistan, Mauritius, and several others.
With over 10 years of active services with crop protectionexperts, Awiner has positioned itself to be the number one choice by anybody looking to importpesticidefrom China.
Contact ustoday, and we will be glad to help you out in every way we can.
References
http://www.davidmoore.org.uk/21st_Century_Guidebook_to_Fungi_PLATINUM/Ch14_01.htm
