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Abstract
The effect of certain hydroxyl radical scavengers (dimethyl sulfoxide, p-itrosodimethylaniline, ethanol, benzoate, salicylate and thiourea) was studied on lateral sclerotial differentiation and growth of Sclerotium rolfsii and Sclerotinia minor. At low growth noninhibiting scavenger concentrations there was a scavenger dose-and reaction rate-correlation with increased sclerotial differentiation delay and inhibition. Higher scavenger concentrations further inhibited sclerotial differentiation and finally arrested growth, providing antioxidant antifungal alternatives to traditional fungicides. Salicylate and pnitrosodimethylaniline (with the highest hydroxyl radical reaction rates) were the most effective inhibitors of sclerotial differentiation and growth. These data strongly support our theory which suggests that oxygen free radicals are responsible for sclerotial differentiation in fungi.