Inhibition of Metal Catalysis as a Fungistatic Mechanism

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Abstract
Evidence is given to support the contention that fungicides are effective due to precipitation of metals essential to fungi. 8-hydroxy-quinoline forms chelate inner complex salts with many metals and is an efficient fungicide. At lower pH where the salts did not form, it was not fungistatic. Zn was found to be the most essential element for Fusarium oxysporum lycopersici and Ceratostomella ulmi. 8-hydroxyquinoline prevented growth by removing Zn from the medium. Addn. of 25 mg of Zn per liter restored nearly normal growth in the presence of 40 mg of the fungicide. Increasing amts. of the fungicide were needed to inhibit Fusarium growth in the presence of increasing amts. of Zn. For 0.5 mg of Zn per 1., 30 mg of fungicide per 1. inhibited growth. With 5 mg of Zn per 1., 60 mg of fungicide were needed.