DITHANE RAINSHIELD NEO TEC FUNGICIDE
- APVMA no.
- 59688
- Registrant
- UPL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
- Formulation
- WATER DISPERSIBLE GRANULE
Dithane Rainshield Neo Tec Fungicide is a broad-spectrum, multi-site contact protectant fungicide formulated as a water dispersible granule containing 750 g/kg mancozeb. It is designed for preventative disease control across a wide range of horticultural and broadacre crops, providing an essential foundation against key plant pathogens such as black spot (scab), downy mildew, anthracnose, and brown rot.
The product serves as a primary preventative safeguard in management programmes across Australian production regions, including pome fruit orchards in Batlow and the Goulburn Valley, commercial vineyards in the Riverina, and citrus blocks in Sunraysia. Because mancozeb acts on the leaf and fruit surface to inhibit fungal spore germination, application prior to pathogen infection or predicted rainfall events is critical for optimum performance.
Integrating this water dispersible granule formulation into early-season spray diaries helps maintain clean canopy foliage and developing fruit. Its contact protectant activity makes it a versatile tool when building robust crop protection programmes alongside systemic fungicide options.
Active constituents
- MANCOZEB750 g/kg
Registered uses
Withholding period
WHP: BANANAS: NOT REQUIRED WHEN USED AS DIRECTED MANGOES: DO NOT HARVEST FOR 1 DAY AFTER APPLICATION. CUSTARD APPLES AND PAWPAWS (PAPAYA) DO NOT HARVEST FOR 1 DAY AFTER APPLICATION. PAPAYA LEAVES MUST NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. BEANS,CARROTS,CELERY,COLE CROPS, CUCURBITS GARLIC ONIONS PEAS, SOYBEANS,TOMATOES: DO NOT HARVEST FOR 7 DAYS AFTER APPLICATION. ALMONDS BEETROOT COTTON CAPSICUMS, FENNEL LETTUCE, PEANUTS POME FRUIT RHUBARB SILVER BEET SPINACH AND STONE FRUIT: DO NOT HARVEST FOR 14 DAYS AFTER APPLICATION. GRAPEVINES: DO NOT HARVEST FOR 30 DAYS AFTER APPLICATION. POPPIES: DO NOT HARVEST FOR 7 WEEKS AFTER APPLICATION. GREEN LEGUMES PULSE CROPS: GREEN CROPS DO NOT HARVEST FOR 7 DAYS AFTER APPLICATION. GRAIN CROPS: DO NOT HARVEST FOR 4 WEEKS AFTER APPLICATION. CITRUS POTATOES TOBACCO: NOT REQUIRED WHEN USED AS DIRECTED. WITHHOLDING PERIOD:GRAZING: DO NOT ALLOW LIVESTOCK TO GRAZE COTTON CROP,STUBBLE OR GIN TRASH THAT HAS BEEN TREATED WITH DITHANE RAINSHIELF NEO TEC FUNGICIDE. GREEN LEGUMES,PEANUTS,PULSE CROPS: DO NOT GRAZE OR CUT FOR STOCKFOOD FOR 14 DAYS AFTER LAST APPLICATION. PAPAYA: DO NOT USE OR SUPPLY TREATED PAPAYA INCLUDING LEAVES FOR STOCK FOOD. SOYBEANS: DO NOT GRAZE FOR STOCKFOOD FOR 14 DAYS AFTER LAST APPLICATION. Passionfruit: Do not harvest for 1 day after application.
The registered withholding periods required by the product label vary according to crop type and end-use harvest or grazing destination:
- Bananas, citrus, potatoes, and tobacco: Withholding period is not required when used as directed.
- Mangoes, custard apples, passionfruit, and pawpaws (papaya): Do not harvest for 1 day after application. Papaya leaves must not be made available for human consumption or stock food.
- Beans, carrots, celery, cole crops, cucurbits, garlic, green legumes, onions, peas, green pulse crops, soybeans, and tomatoes: Do not harvest for 7 days after application.
- Almonds, beetroot, capsicums, cotton, fennel, lettuce, peanuts, pome fruit, rhubarb, silver beet, spinach, and stone fruit: Do not harvest for 14 days after application.
- Grapevines: Do not harvest for 30 days after application.
- Grain crops: Do not harvest for 4 weeks after application.
- Poppies: Do not harvest for 7 weeks after application.
Grazing and Stockfood Restrictions:
- Cotton: Do not allow livestock to graze cotton crop, stubble, or gin trash that has been treated with this fungicide.
- Green legumes, peanuts, pulse crops, and soybeans: Do not graze or cut for stockfood for 14 days after the last application.
- Papaya: Do not use or supply treated papaya, including leaves, for stock food.
Mode of action
Mancozeb is a dithiocarbamate fungicide belonging to FRAC Group M03. It works through multi-site contact action, interfering with multiple enzyme systems and cellular metabolic processes within fungal spores. By inactivating sulfhydryl groups in fungal enzymes, it prevents spore germination and tube elongation on the plant surface before penetration can occur.
Resistance management
Because Group M03 fungicides act on multiple biochemical sites within the pathogen, the risk of target fungi developing resistance to mancozeb is extremely low. This multi-site protectant is an essential resistance management partner when rotated or tank-mixed with single-site systemic chemistries (such as DMIs, SDHIs, or QoIs) to delay resistance development in disease populations.
Tank-mix compatibility
Compatibility depends on spray tank water quality, active constituents, and formulation types. Avoid mixing protectant formulations with strongly alkaline materials or unapproved wetters. Caution is required when combining contact fungicides with horticultural oils, emulsifiable concentrates, or nutrient sprays during periods of high ambient temperature or crop stress. Always check product labels and conduct a small-scale jar test prior to full tank preparation.
Handling and environment
Handle this product in accordance with the safety directions, personal protective equipment requirements, and first aid instructions detailed on the registered product label. Avoid drift onto non-target vegetation, waterways, and sensitive environmental areas. Refer directly to the approved APVMA package label for mandatory re-entry periods, aquatic and wildlife safety statements, buffer zones, and pollinator cautions.
Common questions
- What is the primary role of a contact protectant fungicide in a spray diary?
- Contact protectants form a protective surface film that prevents fungal spores from germinating and establishing infection. They must be applied preventatively before disease establishment and help protect single-site systemic fungicides from resistance buildup.
- How do I decide when to schedule preventative contact fungicide sprays?
- Timing depends on crop growth stage, weather forecasts, disease history in the block, and local disease risk models. Protectant sprays are best applied ahead of rain periods or dew events that favour fungal infection. Consult local agronomist advice and the registered label for specific crop timing.
- Why is thorough spray coverage so important for mancozeb application?
- Mancozeb is a multi-site contact fungicide that remains on the outer leaf and fruit surfaces. It does not move systemically within the plant or protect unsprayed new growth, making uniform coverage across the canopy essential for reliable disease control.
- Where can I check specific application rates, water volumes, and re-entry intervals?
- Specific application rates, required spray volumes, maximum application frequencies, and re-entry rules are specified on the official approved APVMA label attached to the product container. Always read the label in full before application.
- How does using a Group M03 fungicide assist with disease resistance management?
- Because Group M03 fungicides affect multiple target sites within fungal cells, pathogens cannot easily develop resistance. Rotating or tank-mixing Group M03 protectants with high-risk single-site fungicides protects those vulnerable chemistries from resistance selection.
- What precautions should be taken when tank-mixing with oils or other chemicals?
- Verify compatibility notes on all involved product labels, perform a jar test to confirm physical stability in your water source, and exercise caution when applying tank mixtures containing oils or EC formulations during hot weather or crop stress.