Agriculture: Pistachio Pest Management Guidelines

General Properties of Fungicides Used in Pistachios

Common name
(example trade name)
Chemical class
(FRAC group number)1
Activity Mode of action Resistance potential
azoxystrobin (Quadris, Abound discontinued) QoI2 (11) contact, systemic6 single-site high7
boscalid (Endura) SDHI4 (7) contact single-site high7
cyprodinil (Vangard) anilinopyrimidine (9) contact, systemic on some crops single-site high7
cyprodinil/fludioxonil (Switch) anilinopyrimidine/phenylpyrrole (9/12) contact, slightly systemic single-site/single-site high
fenhexamid (Elevate) hydroxyanilide (17) contact single-site high7
iprodione (Rovral) dicarboximide (2) systemic (local) single-site? medium
pyraclostrobin (Cabrio) QoI2 (11) contact, systemic single-site high7
pyrimethanil (Scala) anilinopyrimidine (9) contact, systemic on some crops single-site high7
Reynoutria sachalinensis extract natural product (P 05) contact various low
tebuconazole (Elite**) DMI3-triazole (3) systemic (local)6 single-site high
thiophanate-methyl (Topsin-M) MBC5 (1) systemic (local) single-site high7
trifloxystrobin (Gem) Qol2 (11) contact, systemic6 single-site high7
** Not registered, label withdrawn or inactive in California
1 Group numbers are assigned by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) according to different modes of action. Fungicides with different group numbers are suitable to alternate in a resistance management program. In California, make no more than one application of a fungicide with a mode-of-action group number associated with high resistance risk before rotating to a fungicide with a different mode-of-action group number; for other fungicides, make no more than two consecutive applications before rotating to fungicide with a different mode-of-action group number.
2 QoI = quinone outside inhibitor (strobilurin).
3 DMI = demethylation (sterol) inhibitor.
4 SDHI = succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor
5 MBC = methyl benzimidazole carbamate
6 Unsure or lacking scientific evidence. These fungicides are generally considered to have systemic action based on performance data, but may not have been proven using lab assays (e.g. radioactively labeled compounds).
7 Resistance has been found in California for certain fungicides with a single-site mode of action. To reduce the risk of resistance development, take the mode of action into account when choosing a fungicide. At the beginning of a treatment program, use a fungicide with a multi-site mode of action; for subsequent applications rotate or mix fungicides with different mode of action FRAC numbers. Use labeled rates (preferably the upper range) of the single-site fungicides, and limit the total number of applications per season.

Acknowledgment: Adaskaveg et al., 2025. Fungicides, Bactericides, Biocontrols, and Natural Products for Deciduous Tree Fruit and Nut, Citrus, Strawberry, and Vine Crops in California.

Text Updated: 07/24
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