Mancozeb is a

dithiocarbamate In organic chemistry, a dithiocarbamate is a functional group with the general formula and structure . It is the analog of a carbamate in which both oxygen atoms are replaced by sulfur atoms (when only 1 oxygen is replaced the result is thioca ...

non-systemic agricultural

fungicide Fungicides are biocidal chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill parasitic fungi or their spores. A fungistatic inhibits their growth. Fungi can cause serious damage in agriculture, resulting in critical losses of yield, quality, ...

with multi-site, protective action on contact. It is a combination of two other dithiocarbamates:

maneb Maneb is a fungicide and a polymeric complex of manganese with the ethylene bis(dithiocarbamate) anionic ligand.Arno H. Reidies "Manganese Compounds" Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology 2007; Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. Applications It can be ...

and

zineb Zineb is the chemical compound with the formula n. Structurally, it is classified as a coordination polymer and a dithiocarbamate complex. This pale yellow solid is used as fungicide. Production and applications It is produced by treating ethyl ...

. The mixture controls many

fungal disease A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from t ...

s in a wide range of field crops, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and ornamentals. It is marketed as Penncozeb, Trimanoc, Vondozeb, Dithane, Manzeb, Nemispot, and Manzane. In Canada, a mixture of zoxamide and mancozeb was registered for control of the mildew named Gavel as early as 2008.

Mechanism

Mancozeb reacts with, and inactivates, the

sulfhydryl group In organic chemistry, a thiol (; ), or thiol derivative, is any organosulfur compound of the form , where R represents an alkyl or other organic substituent. The functional group itself is referred to as either a thiol group or a sulfhydryl gro ...

s of

amino acid Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although hundreds of amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the alpha-amino acids, which comprise proteins. Only 22 alpha am ...

s and

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. A ...

s within fungal cells, resulting in disruption of

lipid metabolism Lipid metabolism is the synthesis and degradation of lipids in cells, involving the breakdown or storage of fats for energy and the synthesis of structural and functional lipids, such as those involved in the construction of cell membranes. In anim ...

, respiration, and production of

adenosine triphosphate Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an organic compound that provides energy to drive many processes in living cells, such as muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, condensate dissolution, and chemical synthesis. Found in all known forms of ...

. Mancozeb is listed under FRAC code M:03 The "M:" refers to Chemicals with Multi-Site Activity. "M:" FRAC groups are defined as generally considered as a low risk group without any signs of resistance developing to the fungicides.

Toxicology

A major toxicological concern is

ethylenethiourea Ethylene thiourea (ETU) is an organosulfur compound with the formula . It is an example of an ''N'',''N''-disubstituted thiourea. It is a white solid. It is synthesized by treating ethylenediamine with carbon disulfide. Ethylene thioureas are an ...

(ETU), an industrial contaminant and a breakdown product of mancozeb and other EBDC pesticides. It has potential to cause

goiter A goitre, or goiter, is a swelling in the neck resulting from an enlarged thyroid gland. A goitre can be associated with a thyroid that is not functioning properly. Worldwide, over 90% of goitre cases are caused by iodine deficiency. The term is ...

, a condition in which the thyroid gland is enlarged and has produced birth defects and cancer in experimental animals. ETU has been classified as a probable human carcinogen by the EPA. Mancozeb has been shown to have significant negative effects on beneficial root fungi - totally preventing spore germination at levels far below recommended dosage levels.https://www.beyondpesticides.org/assets/media/documents/Mycorrhizal_fungi_in_ecotoxicological_studies_Soil.pdf

References

External links

* {{PPDB, 424 Fungicides Dithiocarbamates

Mechanism

Toxicology

See also

References

External links