Mancozeb Fungicide: Complete Guide to Uses, Dosage & Price (2026)
If there's one fungicide that every Indian farmer knows by name, it's Mancozeb. Introduced commercially in the 1960s and still going strong in 2026 — sixty years of continuous use and not a single documented case of field resistance anywhere in the world. No modern synthetic fungicide can make that claim. There's a reason the whole industry keeps coming back to it.
Mancozeb 75% WP is the foundational broad-spectrum contact fungicide for Indian agriculture. Here is the complete guide to using it correctly.
What is Mancozeb Fungicide?
Mancozeb is a broad-spectrum contact fungicide belonging to the dithiocarbamate chemical class (FRAC Group M3). Its active ingredient is a complex of manganese ethylene bisdithiocarbamate and zinc salt — which is why it's sometimes called a "Mn-Zn" fungicide.
The most recognisable brand in India is Dithane M-45 (originally Dow AgroSciences, now Corteva). Other major brands include M-45 (Dhanuka), Indofil M-45 (Indofil), Mancozeb M-45 (various generics), and dozens of local formulations.
Key characteristics:
- Multi-site contact action — attacks 6+ biochemical sites in fungi simultaneously
- Zero field resistance in 60+ years — statistically impossible with multi-site action
- Delivers manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) as secondary micronutrient inputs
- Approved for use in IPM programmes due to low resistance risk
- Broad crop registration — registered on virtually every major crop in India
- Very low cost per acre — among the most economical fungicides available
How Does Mancozeb Work?
Mancozeb is a multi-site inhibitor. Upon contact with moisture, it releases isothiocyanate compounds that react with multiple enzymatic systems in the fungal cell simultaneously — disrupting:
- Cellular respiration
- Lipid metabolism
- Cell membrane integrity
- DNA replication
- Protein synthesis
Because it attacks so many targets at once, a fungal cell would need simultaneous mutations at all of them to develop resistance. This is essentially impossible. Mancozeb has remained fully effective against the same pathogen populations for six decades.
Critical limitation: Mancozeb is purely a protectant. It sits on the leaf surface and prevents spore germination. It cannot cure an established infection, and it does not move inside the plant. Perfect coverage of leaf surfaces is essential.
Diseases Mancozeb Controls
| Disease | Crop(s) |
|---|---|
| Late blight | Tomato, potato |
| Early blight (Alternaria) | Tomato, potato |
| Downy mildew | Grapes, onion, cucurbits, soybean |
| Blast | Paddy (rice) |
| Brown spot | Paddy |
| Leaf spot (Cercospora) | Groundnut, tomato, pepper, sugarbeet |
| Anthracnose | Chilli, mango, papaya |
| Tikka disease / early leaf spot | Groundnut |
| Scab | Apple, pear, mango |
| Ripe rot / fruit rot | Grapes, mango, chilli |
| Purple blotch | Onion, garlic |
| Damping off (limited) | Vegetable nurseries |
Which Crops Is Mancozeb Registered For?
Mancozeb has one of the widest crop registrations of any fungicide in India:
- Vegetables: Tomato, potato, chilli, brinjal, cucurbits, onion, garlic, peas, beans
- Fruits: Grapes, mango, apple, papaya, pomegranate, citrus
- Cereals: Paddy (rice), wheat, maize, sorghum
- Oilseeds: Groundnut, soybean, sunflower
- Plantation crops: Coffee, tea, rubber, tobacco
- Cash crops: Cotton, sugarcane
Mancozeb Dosage Chart
| Crop | Disease | Dose per litre | Dose per acre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato / Potato | Early & late blight | 2.5 g/L | 500–600 g in 200 L water |
| Paddy | Blast, brown spot | 2.5–3 g/L | 500–600 g in 200 L water |
| Grapes | Downy mildew, anthracnose | 2.5 g/L | Spray to canopy run-off |
| Groundnut | Early & late leaf spot, rust | 2.5 g/L | 500 g in 200 L water |
| Onion | Purple blotch, downy mildew | 2.5 g/L | 400–500 g in 200 L water |
| Apple / Mango | Scab, anthracnose | 2.5 g/L | Spray to run-off |
| Coffee / Tea | Leaf rust, brown blight | 2.5–3 g/L | Spray to run-off |
| General foliar | Broad-spectrum prevention | 25–30 g per 10 L knapsack | — |
Application Tips: Making Every Spray Count
- Start preventively — this is non-negotiable. Mancozeb cannot cure infection. The only time it is fully effective is before the pathogen establishes. In blight-endemic areas, begin sprays 3–4 weeks after transplanting for tomato and potato.
- Reapply every 7–10 days during high-risk weather (humid, rainy, 18–25°C). Mancozeb deposits degrade in rain and UV — they must be replenished before protection gaps open.
- Coverage is everything. Use 200 litres of water per acre minimum. Mancozeb sits on the surface — any leaf area not covered is unprotected.
- Spray in early morning or evening. Reduces evaporation and improves deposition on leaf surfaces.
- Rotate with systemic fungicides for the best disease management programme. Use Mancozeb as the baseline preventive spray; bring in a systemic (Tilt, Roko, Nativo) when disease is detected. This combination is the industry standard protocol for potato late blight and paddy blast.
- Do not apply to fruit or vegetables within the pre-harvest interval. Mancozeb has a restricted pre-harvest interval on food crops.
Mancozeb as Part of an IPM Programme
Mancozeb is the ideal foundational fungicide for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) because:
- Zero resistance risk — doesn't select for resistant pathogen populations
- Broad spectrum — covers most diseases with a single product
- Low environmental persistence — breaks down relatively quickly
- Highly cost-effective — among the cheapest effective fungicides per acre
When used in rotation or combination with systemics, Mancozeb also protects the systemic fungicides from resistance pressure — a strategy actively recommended by FRAC (Fungicide Resistance Action Committee).
Mancozeb Fungicide Price in India (2026)
- 250 g: ₹80–₹130
- 500 g: ₹140–₹220
- 1 kg: ₹260–₹380
At ₹280–₹380 per kg, a full-acre blight protection spray (500–600 g) costs just ₹140–₹230 — making it the most affordable fungal disease protection per acre among commonly used fungicides.
Buy Mancozeb fungicide on Farmkart at the best price with cash on delivery across India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between Mancozeb 75% WP and Mancozeb 64% WP (Ridomil Gold)?
A: Ridomil Gold contains Mancozeb 64% + Metalaxyl-M 4% — a combination that adds systemic oomycete activity for downy mildew and late blight. Plain Mancozeb 75% WP has no Metalaxyl component. For severe late blight or downy mildew, the combination product is more effective.
Q: Can I mix Mancozeb with insecticides?
A: Generally compatible with most insecticides. Avoid highly alkaline formulations. Commonly mixed with Chlorpyrifos and Imidacloprid for combined spray passes. Jar test recommended for new combinations.
Q: Does Mancozeb work against powdery mildew?
A: Mancozeb has limited efficacy against powdery mildew. Use sulphur, Tebuconazole, or Propiconazole instead.
Q: Pre-harvest interval?
A: 7 days for most vegetables, 15 days for some fruit crops. Always verify on the product label.
Q: Is Mancozeb safe for bees?
A: Low toxicity to bees — it is classified as suitable for IPM programmes including in systems with pollinators present.
