Description
Introduced in 1955, fenaminosulf (1; Lesan; Dexon)
was one of the first selective, systemic fungicides.
It is active against Phycomycetes such as Pythium,
Phytophthora, and Aphanomyces but has little or no
effect on higher fungi belonging to the Ascomycetes or
Basidiomycetes. Fenaminosulf has a relatively high water
solubility (20,000 mgL
-1), a feature often associated
with fungicides that specifically inhibit Oomycetes (3).
Another important physicochemical property is photolytic
instability, one of the reasons that fenaminosulf was
developed as a seed dressing and soil fungicide (4).
As a consequence of acute toxicity , limited
spectrum, and photo-instability, the use of fenaminosulf
decreased (4), and it is now listed in The Pesticide
Manual (5) among products that have been superseded.
Although no longer used, it is included here for
completeness, being the only example of a commercial
fungicide that acts on complex I.
During its period of use, fenaminosulf, as wettable powder
(WP), dust, or granular formulations, was employed
as a seed dressing and soil-applied fungicide to control
damping off and foot/root rots. Fenaminosulf-based products
were used on a range of plants including vegetables,
field crops, ornamentals, and turf.
Safety Profile
Poison by ingestion,
intravenous, and intraperitoneal routes.
Experimental teratogenic effects. Human
mutation data reported. Questionable
carcinogen, A fungicide. When heated to
decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of
NOx, Na2O, and SOx
