Agricultural Triazole Fungicides

Abstract

AbstractMicrobial diseases account for 16% of crop losses annually with fungal pests accounting for approximately 80% of that loss. Several classes of molecules have been used as fungicides for agricultural purposes. Triazole fungicides were first introduced in the mid‐1970, and they are highly effective against powdery mildews, rusts, and leaf‐spotting fungi. Currently, there are 26 commercially available triazole fungicides, with 19 having registration for agricultural use in the United States and the European Union for a variety of crops. Despite their general acceptance, triazole fungicides face regulatory hurdles due to toxicological concerns for endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and liver toxicity. Further, increasing incidence of triazole resistance and changes in global weather patterns is warranting increased application rates to protect significant food crops from fungal pests. All these pressures pose challenges to farmers, agrochemical companies, and regulatory agencies which need to keep these important agricultural tools in the field while assuring safety to applicators, consumers, and the environment.