What is Signum?
Signum is a broad-spectrum fungicide belonging to the group of strobilurin fungicides. These fungicides work by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration in fungal cells. First registered for use in 2001, Signum is commonly used worldwide in disease control programs on a wide variety of crops.
How Does it Work?
Strobilurin fungicides like Signum disrupt cellular respiration in fungal cells by inhibiting the mitochondrial respiratory chain. This inhibition prevents ATP production in the fungus, essentially suffocating the pathogen. Signum is classified as a Quinone Outside Inhibitor (QoI), meaning it binds to the bc1 complex of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. By blocking electron flow at this point, Signum cuts off the fungus's energy supply and halts its growth.
Key Diseases Controlled
Signum exhibits broad-spectrum activity against many important plant fungal pathogens across a wide range of crops. Some of the key diseases it controls include:
- Powdery mildews: Pyraclostrobin is highly effective against many powdery mildew pathogens, including those that cause grape powdery mildew (Uncinula necator) and cucurbit powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii).
- Rust diseases: It provides excellent control of rust fungi such as wheat leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) and soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi).
- Gray mold: An important application is in the control of gray mold or botrytis bunch rot (Botrytis cinerea) in grapes and various berry crops.
- Leaf spots: Signum is also effective against many foliar fungal pathogens that cause leaf spots, including Septoria leaf spot in wheat.
Registered Crops and Formulations
Signum is registered for use on over 60 different food, feed, forage, and nursery crops worldwide. Some key crop registrations and uses in the United States include:
- Grapes: Registered for control of powdery mildew, downy mildew, phomopsis cane and leaf spot, and botrytis bunch rot.
- Tree nuts: Labeled for various diseases in almonds, walnuts, and pistachios.
- Berries: Used in strawberry, caneberry, bushberry, and low-bush blueberry production.
- Vegetables:Registered in tomato, cucurbit, leafy vegetable, brassica, and potato crops.
- Field crops: Labeled for several diseases in wheat, corn, sorghum, barley, oats, rice, and sugar cane.
- Turfgrass: Formulations available for control of dollar spot, brown patch, and other diseases in turf.
It is available in various formulations for both foliar and seed treatment applications, including soluble concentrate (SC), suspension concentrate (SC), and water dispersible granule (WDG) products.
Importance in IPM Programs
Pyraclostrobin plays an important role in many integrated pest management (IPM) programs due to its multi-site mode of action, preventative and curative activity, long shelf life, and favorable environmental and toxicological profile. As a strobilurin, it is a valuable resistance management tool that can be alternated or tank mixed with fungicides from other chemical classes. Used appropriately as one component of a comprehensive IPM strategy, it helps control key diseases while minimizing negative impacts on humans, plants and the environment.
Resistance Management
While Signum has an excellent record since its over 15 years ago, fungicide resistance is a growing concern for all strobilurin fungicides. To preserve the effectiveness of Signum and related QoI fungicides, resistance management strategies must be followed strictly as specified on product labels. These usually involve alternation or mixing with non-QoI fungicides and limiting the number of consecutive applications. Adhering to resistance management guidelines is essential to maintain Signum and other strobilurin fungicides as viable tool in disease control programs for years to come.
Pyraclostrobin is an important broad-spectrum fungicide used worldwide for control of many fungal diseases in high-value food, feed, and ornamental crops. Its multi-site mode of action makes it a valuable component of IPM and fungicide resistance management programs when used judiciously according to label directions. Proper stewardship through adherence to resistance management strategies will be critical to sustain the efficacy of this widely used fungicide class in agriculture.
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Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)
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