News

The Most Comprehensive Guide to Pesticide Knowledge Ever (Collector’s Edition)


Category:

Industry Information

Author:

Ye Yu Shi Guang

Source:

Ye Yu Shi Guang

Release date:

2024-04-30

Pesticides are the abbreviated term for agricultural chemicals. According to the Regulations on the Administration of Pesticides, promulgated by the State Council on May 8, 1997, pesticides in China are defined as mixtures of one or more substances—whether chemically synthesized or derived from biological or other natural sources—and their formulations, which are used to prevent, eliminate, or control diseases, pests, weeds, and other harmful organisms that damage agriculture and forestry, as well as to purposefully regulate the growth of plants and insects.
 
There are many ways to classify pesticides, which can be categorized according to their source, the target organisms they control, their mode of action, and other criteria.
 

Classification by mechanism of action
 
(1) Insecticide
 
① Stomach poisons are agents that enter the insect body via the digestive system, causing poisoning and death. Examples include trichlorfon. These pesticides are highly effective against pests with chewing or sucking‑and‑lapping mouthparts.
 
② Contact insecticides are agents that, upon contact with the pest’s body, penetrate the cuticle and enter the insect, causing poisoning and death. Examples include most organophosphate insecticides and pyrethroid insecticides. Contact insecticides can be used to control pests with various types of mouthparts; however, they are less effective against scale insects, psyllids, whiteflies, and other pests whose bodies are covered with waxy secretions.
 
③ Systemic insecticides: These agents are readily absorbed by plant tissues, translocated throughout the plant to reach all parts, or metabolized into more toxic compounds. When pests feed on the treated plant, they become poisoned and die. Examples include imidacloprid. Systemic insecticides are particularly effective against sap-sucking pests.
 
④ Fumigants are chemicals that vaporize into toxic gases at room temperature, entering the respiratory system of insects through their spiracles and causing poisoning and death. Examples include aluminum phosphide. Fumigants are most effective when applied under sealed conditions; for instance, when using aluminum phosphide tablets to control wood-boring pests, the insect entry holes should be sealed with soil.
 
⑤ Specific insect growth regulators can be classified into the following types according to their mode of action:
 
1) Insect growth regulators are agents that, through ingestion or contact, enter the insect’s body, inhibit chitin synthesis, and disrupt cuticle formation. This prevents proper molting and metamorphosis, thereby impeding egg hatching and adult emergence, or causing developmental abnormalities in the insect, thus exerting their insecticidal effect. These compounds exhibit high efficacy, low toxicity, minimal residue, and pronounced selectivity, making them safe for humans, livestock, and other beneficial organisms. However, their insecticidal action is relatively slow, and their residual activity is short-lived. Examples include Methoprene No. 3, Lufenuron, Pyriproxyfen, and Diflubenzuron.
 
2) Attractants: These agents use trace amounts of gaseous molecules to lure pests together for concentrated eradication. Such attractants are further classified into food attractants, sex attractants, and oviposition attractants. Among these, sex attractants are the most widely used, such as those for the peach fruit moth and the grape berry moth.
 
3) Repellents act on the protected target, discouraging pests from approaching or inducing them to relocate and escape, thereby safeguarding crops. Examples include mosquito repellent oils and camphor.
 
4) Antifeedants: After being ingested by pests, these agents disrupt the pests’ normal physiological functions, leading to reduced feeding or rapid cessation of feeding, ultimately resulting in starvation and death. Examples include azadirachtin and antifeedant amines.
These insecticides are not highly toxic in themselves; rather, they exert their effects on insects through specific mechanisms. Such agents are generally referred to as selective insecticides.
 
(2) Fungicide
 
① Protective fungicides are agents that, before pathogenic microorganisms invade the host plant, are sprayed onto the plant’s surface to form a protective barrier, thereby preventing pathogen infection and safeguarding the plant. Examples include Bordeaux mixture, zineb, and mancozeb.
 
② Therapeutic fungicides: These are applied during the latent phase after pathogenic microorganisms have already invaded the plant, with the aim of inhibiting further spread within the plant or eliminating the pathogen’s harmful effects. Examples include triazolone, thiophanate‑methyl, and aluminum phosphite.
 
③ Eradicant fungicides are agents that exert a direct and potent lethal effect on pathogenic microorganisms. These compounds are often phytotoxic, so they are typically applied only as pre-sowing soil treatments, during plant dormancy, or for seed and seedling treatment. Examples include lime sulfur and thiram.
 
(3) Herbicides
 
① Selective herbicides: These herbicides exhibit selectivity among different plant species, meaning they can harm or kill certain plants while being relatively safe for others. Most herbicides are selective. For example, atrazine and dichlobenil belong to this category.
 
② Non-selective herbicides: These herbicides lack selectivity or exhibit only very limited selectivity, capable of killing the vast majority of green plants. They can eliminate both weeds and crops; therefore, they must be used with extreme caution. Glyphosate is a representative example of this class of herbicides. They are typically applied to fallow land, field borders, and embankments for weed control. When used in agricultural fields, a directed‑spray method is generally employed.
 

Classified according to the target organism for control and prevention
 
They can be classified into insecticides, acaricides, fungicides, nematicides, herbicides, rodenticides, and plant growth regulators, among others.
 
(1) Insecticide
 
A chemical agent used for the control and prevention of pests.
 
Emamectin benzoate
Avermectin exhibits 10- to 100-fold enhanced insecticidal, acaricidal, and nematicidal activity, with a broader spectrum of target pests. Its mode of action is primarily stomach toxicity, supplemented by contact killing; it induces irreversible paralysis in pests, leading to cessation of feeding, with mortality occurring 2–4 days later—resulting in relatively slow knockdown. It offers a long residual efficacy: 10–15 days against insects and 15–25 days against mites. Avermectin lacks systemic translocation within plants but can penetrate epidermal tissues. It demonstrates exceptionally high efficacy against lepidopteran pests, mites, coleopteran and homopteran pests, and thrips, while being unlikely to select for resistance. It is readily degraded in soil and is highly safe for all crops when used under greenhouse conditions or at up to ten times the recommended application rate. Moreover, a second peak in insecticidal activity emerges after more than 10 days.
 
Imidacloprid
Nicotinic insecticides; act by contact, ingestion, and systemic action; cause paralysis and death in pests; exhibit rapid efficacy, with high control rates achieved within one day, and a residual activity lasting approximately 25 days; perform best at elevated temperatures; effective against piercing‑sucking mouthpart pests; readily absorbed by crops and translocated to the growing apex, with root uptake.
 
Tebufenpyrad
Promotes molting in lepidopteran larvae; acts via a mechanism opposite to that of other molting inhibitors; effective against both older and younger instars; cessation of feeding (stomach‑toxic action) occurs within 6–8 hours, making it faster‑acting than molting inhibitors, with mortality beginning after 3–4 days; causes no phytotoxicity, is safe for crops, and leaves no residual spray marks.
 
Malathion
When temperatures are low, its toxicity decreases; therefore, the application rate or concentration may be appropriately increased. It is effective against pests with chewing and piercing‑sucking mouthparts, exerting both contact and stomach‑poisoning actions, as well as some fumigant and systemic activity. It exhibits strong knockdown efficacy and performs best under high‑temperature conditions. However, it has a short residual period. It can cause phytotoxicity on certain crops, such as sorghum, cucurbits, and fruit trees like pears, grapes, and cherries, so use with caution. Discontinue application 10 days before harvest.
 
Chlorfluazuron
Apply during the early larval stage; efficacy declines as larval age increases. It inhibits chitin synthesis and exerts a stomach‑toxic effect, penetrating the cuticle of insects and eggs, but it lacks systemic activity. Spray on the undersides of plant leaves. The residual activity lasts for more than 30 days and is resistant to rain wash‑off. It is safe for beneficial organisms and highly effective against lepidopteran larvae and dipteran larvae. Mortality begins 3 days after application, with peak mortality occurring around day 5. It is ineffective against adult insects.
 
Quinalphos
It exhibits insecticidal and acaricidal activity, with both stomach‑poisoning and contact‑killing effects; it lacks systemic translocation and fumigant properties. It demonstrates good penetration and some ovicidal activity, degrades rapidly on plants, and has a short residual efficacy. It is highly effective in controlling chewing and sucking pests.
 
Acetamiprid
Nicotinyl pyridine compounds; exhibits both contact and stomach toxicity, with excellent systemic activity; inhibits the activity of acetylcholine receptors; effectively controls aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies, scale insects in the Hemiptera order, as well as leaf miners, small moths, and longhorn beetles, thrips, and other pests in the Lepidoptera and Coleoptera orders; when formulated as a granular product for soil application, it can control underground pests; provides rapid action and a long residual efficacy, lasting approximately 20 days.
 
Thiazolinone
It inhibits chitin synthesis and disrupts metabolism; efficacy becomes apparent 3–7 days after application. It does not directly kill adult insects but can shorten their lifespan, reduce egg production, and result in predominantly infertile eggs; even if larvae do hatch, they die quickly. It exhibits excellent control of hemipteran pests such as leafhoppers, planthoppers, whiteflies, and scale insects, with a residual activity lasting more than 30 days. Do not apply by the soil‑drenching method. Avoid direct contact with cabbage or radish, as this may cause phytotoxicity symptoms such as brown spots and green‑leaf discoloration.
 
Isopropylamine
It exhibits contact‑killing activity, with some systemic and translaminar properties and rapid efficacy. It is primarily used on rice to control planthoppers and leafhoppers, and can also control thrips. Do not apply it concurrently with propanil; allow an interval of at least 10 days. This product is phytotoxic to taro and should not be used on this crop.
 
Phoxim
It has a broad insecticidal spectrum and strong knockdown activity, primarily exerting contact and stomach‑poison effects with no systemic action. It is highly effective against Lepidopteran larvae and also exhibits some ovicidal activity. However, it is photolabile, so it is best applied at night or in the evening, and its residual life is short. In soil, its persistence is much longer, making it suitable for controlling underground pests. Cucumbers and snap beans are sensitive to phoxim and prone to phytotoxicity; sorghum is also sensitive and should not be treated by spraying. In corn fields, only granular formulations may be used to control corn borers; do not apply it as a spray to control aphids, armyworms, or other pests.
 
Malathion
Contact, stomach toxicity, and systemic action; effective against chewing‑mouthpart and piercing‑sucking pests, particularly scale insects, with some control of mites; residual activity lasts 10–20 days; in orchards, concentrations should not be too high, as this may cause brown leaf spots.
 
Bifenthrin
Insecticide and acaricide; both stomach‑acting and contact‑acting; rapid action with long residual activity; several times more active than other pyrethroid formulations; discontinue use 4 days before vegetable harvest; exhibits enhanced efficacy at low temperatures; recommended for application during spring and autumn.
 
Methomyl
It acts rapidly; it exerts both contact and stomach toxicity, while also serving as an excellent ovicide, and can penetrate plant tissues, moving upward through the plant’s vascular system.
 
Phoxim
It exhibits contact and stomach toxicity but no systemic activity; it acts rapidly to knock down pests and is effective against underground pests and the larvae of lepidopteran insects; it degrades readily upon exposure to light; cucurbits, legumes, sugar beets, and corn are sensitive to phoxim; discontinue use 5 days before harvest.
 
Chlorpyrifos (Lorsban, Chlorpyrifos-methyl, Dursban)
Broad-spectrum; exhibits stomach toxicity, contact killing, and fumigation; highly effective against underground pests; active against Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and harmful mites; sensitive during the seedling stage of cucurbit crops.
 
Cypermethrin
It exhibits contact and stomach toxicity, as well as repellent activity; it has strong knockdown efficacy and rapid insecticidal action. It is particularly effective against lepidopteran pests and also controls aphids and the green leafhopper. However, its control of mites and mirids is limited; it has a relatively short residual period; its penetrating power is weak, resulting in minimal internal contamination of fruits.
 
Deltamethrin
Contact action, with additional stomach toxicity, repellency, and antifeedant effects; highly effective against lepidopteran larvae, but ineffective against mites; very poor systemic translocation, leaving only the fruit peel contaminated.
 
Trifluoromethyl cyhalothrin (Kungfu, PP321)
It exhibits strong contact and stomach‑poisoning activity against pests and mites, and also has a repellent effect; it is resistant to wash‑off by rain; it must not be used as a soil treatment.
 
Fluorochlorocyanopyrithrin (Baishujuizhi, Baishude)
Contact and stomach toxicity; highly effective against a wide range of lepidopteran larvae; ovicidal activity; repellent effect;
 
Bacillus thuringiensis
Bacterial; stomach poison that produces bacterial toxins; relatively slow-acting; residual efficacy lasts about 10 days; the higher the temperature, the more feeding occurs, and the better the control; effective against larvae of lepidopteran pests such as cabbage caterpillars, diamondback moths, beet armyworms, beet webworms, and silver‑striped armyworms; exhibits insecticidal activity only at temperatures above 30°C; apply 2–3 days in advance.
 
Avermectin
A broad-spectrum antibiotic insecticide and acaricide; exhibits both stomach toxicity and contact action, with repellent properties.
 
Metaldehyde
Strong attractant; spring and autumn rainy seasons; after seedling sowing or transplanting; under low temperatures (below 1.5°C) or high temperatures (above 35°C), snail activity is reduced, thereby compromising control efficacy.
 
Dinotefuran
Thiourea is an insecticide and acaricide; it is used on cotton, fruit crops, vegetables, and tea plants. It exhibits both systemic and fumigant activity and, under ultraviolet light, transforms into a compound with insecticidal efficacy. It is best applied on sunny days. It is effective against resistant aphids, leafhoppers, and whiteflies, and helps control damage caused by diamondback moths, cabbage whites, and noctuid moths.
 
Diflubenzuron
Chitin synthase is inhibited, resulting in sterility in adult insects and exerting toxic effects on larvae, pupae, adults, and eggs; its efficacy is particularly pronounced against the larvae of Lepidoptera and Diptera.
 
Flufenoxuron
It exhibits insecticidal and ovicidal activity with rapid efficacy, particularly effective against cotton bollworm; it also suppresses the feeding rate of a wide range of Coleoptera, Diptera, and Homoptera pests, and delivers swift knockdown.
 
(2) Acaricide
 
A formulation used for the control and prevention of harmful mites. It includes acaricides with specific selectivity as well as insecticidal-acaricidal agents that also exhibit insecticidal activity.
 
Pyridaben
Broad-spectrum, highly effective, and contact‑acting; effective against eggs, nymphs, and adult mites; provides rapid knockdown with a long residual activity; ensure thorough, even coverage on both sides of the foliage.
 
Propargite
Contact and stomach action; poor efficacy against eggs; effective when applied above 20°C, with efficacy declining as temperature drops below 20°C; residual activity lasts 15–25 days; under high‑temperature, high‑humidity conditions, a low concentration must be used.
 
Tetradifon
Spraying before winter egg hatching can control phytophagous mites throughout the entire season; it is particularly effective against the elm spider mite (apple red spider mite) and has no adverse effects on predatory mites or beneficial insects. It belongs to the organic nitrogen‑heterocyclic class, exerts a contact action, and kills eggs as well as young and juvenile mites, though its efficacy against adult mites is relatively limited. The residual activity lasts 50–60 days. For controlling apple red spider mites, apply during the early hatching stage of overwintering eggs before flowering; for controlling hawthorn red spider mites, apply during the peak oviposition period of overwintering adults after flowering. The product exhibits a relatively slow onset of action, with peak acaricidal efficacy achieved 2–3 weeks after application. Timely application during the early hatching phase is unaffected by temperature fluctuations, and it can be tank‑mixed with lime sulfur. During storage, protect the product from freezing and direct sunlight.
 
Tebufenpyrad
It penetrates the plant epidermis but lacks systemic translocation. It exhibits strong ovicidal and larvicidal activity against mites, though it is ineffective against adult mites; however, it does inhibit egg hatching. As a non‑temperature‑sensitive acaricide, its efficacy can persist for approximately 50 days, with a relatively slow onset of action; therefore, application should be timed on the earlier side of the recommended window. It is compatible with Bordeaux mixture, lime sulfur, and various other pesticides. It provides excellent control of leaf mites but offers poor control of rust mites and gall mites.
 
Triazolyltin
It exhibits strong contact-killing activity; broad-spectrum, effective against larval mites, adult mites, and summer eggs, but ineffective against overwintering eggs. It is photostable, has a long residual efficacy, and is safe for crops. When applied by spraying on sweet oranges at temperatures above 32°C, it may cause phytotoxicity to new shoots and tender leaves; therefore, its use should be avoided during periods of high temperature.
 
Cypermethrin
A neurotoxic agent with some acaricidal activity but不含氟; it has a relatively long residual efficacy; it repels feeding and oviposition and is not thermosensitive; it targets Lepidoptera; it is not intended as a specialized acaricide; its residual activity lasts approximately 10 days.
 
(3) Fungicide
 
A formulation used to prevent and control plant pathogenic microorganisms.
 
Zinc dithiocarbamate
Broad-spectrum; effective against downy mildew, late blight, anthracnose, and other pathogens; requires application at the onset of disease, with a relatively short residual efficacy; controls a wide range of diseases including damping-off, seedling blight, angular leaf spot, wilt, anthracnose, and downy mildew in cucurbit crops.
 
Manganese zinc dithiocarbamate
Anthracnose, blight, downy mildew, leaf spot, and black spot diseases of cucurbits; avoid applying pesticides during high temperatures; no need to re-spray after rain.
 
Methyl thiophanate
Broad-spectrum; protective and curative; effective against gray mold, powdery mildew, anthracnose, brown spot, leaf mold, and other diseases; for root drenching to control wilt disease; can be tank‑mixed with alkaline fungicides such as lime sulfur, but must not be mixed with copper‑based formulations or applied immediately before or after them, nor used alone over an extended period; discontinue use 14 days prior to harvest; suitable for sweet potatoes and peaches; for rice, spray from the young panicle initiation stage through booting to control blast and sheath blight; for rapeseed, spray during peak flowering to control sclerotinia; for soybeans, spray during pod‑setting to control gray leaf spot.
 
Chlorothalonil
Broad-spectrum; provides preventive protection but lacks systemic translocation; resistant to wash‑off by rain and offers a long residual activity; may cause phytotoxicity on tomatoes, mushrooms, strawberries, tea plants, peaches, and tobacco, and on certain apple and grape varieties; used to control late blight, early blight, and gray mold in potatoes prior to canopy closure; applied 2 weeks after flowering to manage grape anthracnose, powdery mildew, and fruit rots; for peach brown rot and scab, treatment is recommended during bud break and at petal fall; for peach leaf curl, applications are typically timed at petal fall; for strawberry gray mold, leaf blight, leaf scorch, and powdery mildew, spray once at the early, mid, and late stages of flowering.
 
Metalaxyl
It exhibits both systemic and translaminar activity, providing protection and curative effects; its residual efficacy lasts 10–14 days; effective against downy mildew, Phytophthora, and Pythium pathogens in cucurbit crops.
 
Carbendazim
Broad-spectrum, offering both protective and curative effects; effective against numerous ascomycetes and deuteromycetes, controlling wilt, vine decline, anthracnose, powdery mildew, downy mildew, leaf spot, and other diseases in cucurbits, peaches, tobacco, and tomatoes; for cereals, spray during the early flowering stage to prevent Fusarium head blight; and apply during the young spikelet formation to booting stages to control sheath blight.
 
Procymidone
Protects and treats; provides long-lasting efficacy and inhibits lesion development; systemically absorbed through leaves and roots; highly effective against diseases caused by Botrytis and Sclerotinia species, such as gray mold and sclerotinia rot that occur under high-humidity, low-temperature conditions, and particularly effective against pathogens resistant to thiophanate‑methyl and carbendazim; should not be mixed with organophosphate pesticides; when applied to seedlings, weak plants, or under conditions of high temperature and high humidity, carefully adjust the spray concentration to avoid phytotoxicity; suitable for strawberries, peaches, and cherries.
 
Iprodione
Broad-spectrum, contact‑acting, protective and curative; systemic uptake through the roots confers curative activity. Effective against diseases caused by Botrytis, Candida, Sclerotinia, Alternaria, and others, particularly renowned for controlling gray mold, sclerotinia rot, and early blight. Suitable for cherries, peaches, and plums. For grape gray mold control, apply once at each of the following stages: after flower pedicel abscission, when grape clusters cease growth, at the onset of ripening, and 20 days before harvest. To manage apple scab, begin spraying during the early spring shoot‑growth phase, at the first sign of symptoms. For stone fruits (apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, etc.), treat blossom blight, gray star disease, gray mold, and blossom blight with one application at the onset of flowering and another during peak bloom.
 
Fluazinam
A broad-spectrum, systemic triazole; highly effective against diseases caused by ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, and deuteromycetes; with a residual efficacy of approximately 7 days; exhibits no phytotoxicity under variable climatic conditions and at the recommended control doses.
 
Cyproconazole
Triazoles: systemic, protective, and curative; effective against powdery mildew, rust, apple scab, and rots; safe for crops and promotes growth.
 
Polyoxin
A broad-spectrum systemic antibiotic; it disrupts chitin synthesis in pathogenic fungal cell walls, thereby inhibiting spore formation and the expansion of disease lesions.
 
Mancozeb
Contact fungicidal and systemic translaminar action; highly effective against diseases caused by oomycetes and downy mildews; powdery mildew, downy mildew, and blight.
 
Mancozeb and Metalaxyl-M
It exhibits excellent efficacy against fungal diseases such as those caused by Phytophthora, Alternaria, and Cercospora, including Phytophthora blight and downy mildew; discontinue use 7–14 days prior to harvest; first prepare a stock solution of the formulation.
 
Metalaxyl-M
Inhibits pathogen cell membranes; exhibits excellent control of downy mildew, blight, and damping-off; suitable for foliar spray and soil application; promotes crop growth; when applied as a spray, ensure the soil remains moist.
 
Prochloraz
Protection and treatment; highly effective against a wide range of diseases caused by ascomycetes and deuteromycetes; lacks systemic activity but exhibits moderate translaminar movement, delivering good control of rice bakanae disease, mango anthracnose, citrus green mold and anthracnose, stem rot, banana anthracnose, and crown rot, among others. It can also be used for postharvest fruit treatments to prevent storage‑borne diseases. Furthermore, seed treatment demonstrates strong efficacy against numerous seedborne and soilborne fungal diseases of cereals. When applied alone, it provides excellent control of leaf spot, mold rot, damping-off, leaf blight, stripe disease, sesame leaf spot, and glume blight; when tank‑mixed with carboxin or carbendazim, it offers outstanding control of smut and bunt diseases.
 
Ethirimol
Soil disinfection and sterilization; readily absorbed by roots and translocated within the root system, where it is metabolized into two glycosides that enhance physiological activity; effective against soilborne diseases caused by Pythium, Fusarium, and other pathogens, including damping-off, seedling blight, wilt, and sclerotinia; may cause phytotoxicity when applied as a wet‑mix or during seed dressing; dosage must be strictly controlled to avoid inhibiting crop growth.
 
Tebuconazole
Broad-spectrum triazoles; promote growth and increase yield; sorghum, tea; powdery mildew, stem rust, Cercospora, Phoma, and Septoria.
 
Oxymetholone
It exhibits high efficacy against downy mildew pathogens and has a long residual activity; for tobacco, it also controls a variety of secondary diseases such as brown spot and black rot.
 
Benzovindiflupyr
It has a broad spectrum of fungicidal activity, exhibiting protective, curative, and systemic properties; it enhances crop yield and ensures quality.
 
Prochloraz
It belongs to the anilino‑pyrimidine class; exhibits the highest activity against gray mold; inhibits the production of penetration‑inhibiting enzymes; possesses both systemic translocation and fumigant action, rapidly reaching floral organs and young fruits after application; delivers faster and more consistent efficacy; is insensitive to temperature fluctuations; effective against gray mold as well as apple scab and leaf spot diseases; for field vegetable crops, apply during calm, cool conditions in the early morning or late evening; cease application when temperatures exceed 28°C.
 
Thiram
An organosulfur protective fungicide with moderate toxicity; it exhibits some systemic activity and a relatively long residual efficacy in the soil. It has low crop safety, with a tendency to cause phytotoxicity during the seedling and young fruit stages. A broad-spectrum fungicide, it is currently used primarily to control grape white rot and anthracnose, pear black spot and leaf spot, early defoliation of apple trees, jujube brown spot and fruit rot, as well as damping-off, root rot, leaf spot, and gray mold in vegetables.
 
Foliar blight triazole
Protects and treats; safe for fish; long-lasting efficacy and crop‑safe; exhibits strong systemic translocation; highly effective against bacterial diseases of crops; provides excellent preventive and curative control of bacterial leaf blight in rice seedlings, bacterial leaf streak, and citrus canker; remains unaffected by rainfall within 4 hours after application.
 
Jinggangmycin
Strong systemic activity, readily absorbed by fungal cells; for sheath blight, apply from post‑canopy closure through the pre‑heading stage or at the onset of peak disease incidence; for rice false smut, apply during the booting stage; for control of cotton damping-off; and for management of stripe rust in cereals.
 
Dimethomorph
Cinnamic acid derivatives exhibit strong activity against fungi of the Peronosporaceae and Phytophthora genera; they induce the breakdown of sporangial walls and are effective at all stages of the oomycete life cycle, with particularly high sensitivity during the formation of sporangiophores and oospores. These compounds possess strong systemic properties, enabling them to translocate throughout the plant. When applied to young seedlings of cucumber, pepper, cruciferous vegetables, and similar crops, use reduced spray volumes and lower application rates.
 
Metalaxyl-M
It provides protection, treatment, and growth stimulation; inhibits cell membranes; effective against oomycetes; exhibits excellent control of downy mildew, blight, damping-off, late blight in tomatoes, as well as cottony blight in eggplants and tomatoes, and white rust on cruciferous crops; the pre-harvest interval for cucumbers is 3 days.
 
(4) Herbicides
 
A herbicide used to control weeds in gardens and fields.
 
Butachlor (Mashite, Qucao’an, Miecaote)
Selective pre-emergence; absorbed by emerging shoots and roots, effective against pre-emergent weeds and those up to the two-leaf stage; has no adverse effects on subsequent crops; controls grassy weeds, certain sedges, and some broadleaf weeds; in melon fields, apply 1–2 days before emergence or transplanting; shows poor control of common chickweed.
 
Isopropylamine chloroacetate (Dul, Duer, Methoxychloroacetamide, Daoleisi)
Selective pre-emergence soil herbicide; absorbed by the coleoptile (monocots) or by young shoots and roots (dicots); used for weed control in dryland crops such as peanuts, soybeans, vegetables, corn, sugarcane, and melon fields; ensure adequate soil moisture after application.
 
Dimefluthrin (Shitianbu, Chuchaotong, Anxiaocao)
Inhibits cell division in meristematic tissues. Does not affect the germination of weed seeds. Exerts its activity during weed seedling emergence as the emerging shoot, stem, and roots take up the active ingredient. Effective for controlling annual grassy weeds and certain broadleaf weeds in soybean, corn, cotton, tobacco, peanut, and a variety of vegetable and orchard crops. Control of monocotyledonous weeds is more effective than that of dicotyledonous weeds. Apply after irrigating the field.
 
Jingwen Shadegede (Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl)
A systemic, selective stem-and-leaf treatment; effective against grassy weeds; absorbed through stems and leaves and hydrolyzed into an acid; suitable for broadleaf crops and grassy weeds; exhibits a slow mode of action; provides residual control for approximately 45 days; delivers optimal weed‑control performance under high humidity conditions.
 
High-efficiency grass control agent (Efficient pyflufen‑chloroethyl, cyhalofop‑butyl, efficient pyflufen)
A systemic, selective herbicide; applied to stems and leaves; with a long residual activity; effective within one week in summer and taking up to 20 days to take effect in winter; suitable for fields of broadleaf crops; controls grassy weeds; ineffective against broadleaf weeds and sedges; cease application 60 days before harvest.
 
Quizalofop-p-ethyl (Quinclorac, Quizalofop)
Systemic selective herbicide; new leaves turn yellow within 2 days; even if rain occurs within 1–2 hours, the weed‑control efficacy is unaffected; suitable for broadleaf crops; effective against grassy weeds; applicable to melon, soybean, peanut, and vegetable fields; ineffective against sedges and broadleaf weeds.
 
Weiba (Biaoma, Biaoling, Quizalofop-p‑ethyl)
A selective post-emergence herbicide; application timing is flexible (from the one-leaf stage to the late tillering stage of weeds), safe for crops, and leaves no residues in subsequent crops; effective for controlling grassy weeds in cucurbits, vegetables, ornamental plants, orchards, tea gardens, and medicinal plants.
 
Butachlor (Herbicide, Rice Herbicide, Rice Herbicide, Weed Control in Rice Fields)
A systemic, selective herbicide; absorbed by emerging shoots and roots; effective only after seed germination. It is highly effective when applied before the two-leaf stage of barnyardgrass, with markedly reduced efficacy by the three-leaf stage. Used for weed control in rice, vegetables, barley, rapeseed, and Chinese milk vetch fields. In melon fields, application is typically carried out post‑sowing but prior to emergence.
 
(5) Nematicide
 
A pesticide used to control and prevent plant-parasitic nematodes, such as thiazophos.
 
(6) Rodenticide
 
Rodenticides used for the control and prevention of pest rodents, such as sodium fluoroacetate and brodifacoum.
 
(7) Plant growth regulators
 
Agents used to promote or inhibit plant growth and development, such as gibberellins and ethephon.


Classification by pesticide origin    
 
Pesticides can be classified into three major categories based on their origin: mineral-derived pesticides, bio-based pesticides, and chemically synthesized pesticides.
 
(1) Mineral-based pesticides
 
Mineral‑based pesticides are those manufactured from mineral raw materials, such as lime sulfur, Bordeaux mixture, cuprous oxide (basic copper chloride), and oil emulsions.
 
(2) Bio-based pesticides
 
Biopesticides are pesticides developed from natural biological resources, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms. Depending on their source, they can be classified into plant‑derived pesticides, animal‑derived pesticides, and microbial pesticides.
 
① Botanical Pesticides Botanical pesticides are derived from natural plants and include compounds such as pyrethrins, nicotine, rotenone, toosendanin, and brassinolide. These pesticides generally exhibit low toxicity, are safe for humans and livestock, cause no phytotoxicity, and make it difficult for pests to develop resistance. Botanical pesticides also encompass plant‑based biopesticides, primarily referring to genetically modified crops that are resistant to pests or herbicides—such as insect‑resistant cotton, which has already been widely adopted in China.
 
② Animal-derived pesticides Animal-derived pesticides are mainly classified into three major categories:
 
First, there are toxins produced by animals that exert toxic effects on pests. For example, the nereidotoxin derived from the marine polychaete Nereis virens is a quintessential animal toxin and has become a major class of insecticides.
 
Second, there are insect‑derived hormones, including brain hormones, juvenile hormone, and ecdysone, which regulate insect growth and development. Insect pheromones, also known as insect exo‑hormones, serve to attract, stimulate, inhibit, or modulate behaviors such as feeding, mating, and oviposition.
 
Third, biological pesticides refer to commercially available natural enemy insects, predatory mites, and insects that have been genetically or otherwise modified using physical or biological techniques. In China, research and application of various natural enemy insects, including Trichogramma species, Aphidius species, and Encarsia formosa, have made significant progress.
 
③ Microbial Pesticides Microbial pesticides encompass agricultural antibiotics and live microorganisms. Agricultural antibiotics are metabolites produced through the fermentation of antibiotic‑producing microorganisms, which exhibit pesticidal activity; examples include polyoxin, liuyangmycin, and avermectin. Live microbial pesticides consist of pathogenic microorganisms that target pest organisms, such as Beauveria bassiana, Bacillus thuringiensis, and nucleopolyhedroviruses. In general, microbial pesticides cause no phytotoxicity, have minimal environmental impact, and are less likely to induce resistance in pest populations.
 
(3) Chemically synthesized pesticides
 
Chemical synthetic pesticides are those developed and synthesized by humans. These pesticides have highly complex chemical structures, come in a wide variety of formulations, are produced in large quantities, and are used across a broad range of applications. They have now become the most widely used class of pesticides today. At present, the majority of pesticides employed in horticulture, fruit tree cultivation, and floriculture belong to this category.