Four systemic fungicides and a metabolite: Benomyl, Carbendazim, Thiophanate-methyl, Dexon and dimethyl phenylenediamine were screened in the barley progeny test for cytogenetic activity. All affected germination, seedling growth, mitotic and meiotic activity, pollen fertility and seedset in the M1 generation to different degrees; however, no chlorophyll mutations were induced and the M1 effect were much reduced in the M2 progeny. Though the results compare well with those from studies on mammalian cells, the use of these fungicides may not affect the plant breeder and the user of grain.