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Fungicide impacts on photosynthesis in crop plants

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Abstract

Fungicides are widely used to control pests in crop plants. However, it has been reported that these pesticides may have negative effects on crop physiology, especially on photosynthesis. An alteration in photosynthesis might lead to a reduction in photoassimilate production, resulting in a decrease in both growth and yield of crop plants. For example, a contact fungicide such as copper inhibits photosynthesis by destroying chloroplasts, affecting photosystem II activity and chlorophyll biosynthesis. Systemic fungicides such as benzimidazoles, anilides, and pyrimidine are also phytotoxic, whereas azoles stimulate photosynthesis. This article focuses on the available information about toxic effects of fungicides on photosynthesis in crop plants, highlighting the mechanisms of perturbation, interaction, and the target sites of different classes of fungicides.

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  1. Laboratoire de Stress, Défenses et Reproduction des Plantes, URVVC EA 2069, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Bâtiment 18, Moulin de la Housse, BP 1039, 51687, Reims Cedex 2, France

    Anne-Noëlle Petit, Florence Fontaine, Parul Vatsa, Christophe Clément & Nathalie Vaillant-Gaveau

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  1. Anne-Noëlle Petit
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Correspondence to Nathalie Vaillant-Gaveau.

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Petit, AN., Fontaine, F., Vatsa, P. et al. Fungicide impacts on photosynthesis in crop plants. Photosynth Res 111, 315–326 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-012-9719-8

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