Fluopicolide is a fungicide used in agriculture to control diseases caused by oomycetes such as late blight of potato. It is classed as an acylpicolide and its chemical name is 2,6-dichloro-N-{[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl]methyl}benzamide.[1] The precise mode of action is not known, but it is thought to act by affecting spectrin-like proteins in the cytoskeleton of oomycetes.[1][2] This mode of action differs from other available fungicides used to control oomycetes and it can inhibit the growth of strains that are resistant to phenylamides, strobilurin, dimethomorph and iprovalicarb.[1] It has some systemic activity as it moves through the xylem towards the tips of stems, but does not get transported to the roots.[2] It affects the motility of zoospores, the germination of cysts, the growth of the mycelium and sporulation.[3]Bayer CropScience developed the compound and it was first released as a commercial product in 2006.[4]
The median lethal dose in rats is >5000 mg/kg meaning that fluopicolide has low acute toxicity.[2][5] Tests in other mammals indicate that it does not cause skin sensitisation, cancer or developmental problems.[5]
^"Bayer CropScience's Infinito receives best combined rating". Biotech Week. 2007-06-20.
^ abcValérie Toquin; Francois Barja; Catherine Sirven; Roland Beffa (2007). "Fluopicolide, a new Anti-oomycetes Fungicide with a New Mode of Action inducing Perturbation of a Spectrin-like Protein". Modern Crop Protection Compounds. pp. 675–682. doi:10.1002/9783527619580.ch19. ISBN9783527619580.