[4] Inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase, the complex II in the mitochondrial respiration chain, has been known as a fungicidal mechanism of action since the first examples were marketed in the 1960s.

[8][9] Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHI) of this type act by binding at the quinone reduction site of the enzyme complex, preventing ubiquinone from doing so.

[3][5] The estimated annual use of boscalid in US agriculture is mapped by the US Geological Survey and shows that it is mainly applied to fruit crops, with a maximum use of over 600,000 pounds (270,000 kg) in 2016.

The compound lacks full control of important cereal diseases, especially septoria leaf blotch Zymoseptoria tritici, which has limited its potential.

[5] Boscalid has low acute toxicity:[1] the Codex Alimentarius database maintained by the FAO lists the maximum residue limits for it in various food products.