Antifungal activity of camphor against four phytopathogens of Fusarium

Abstract Fusarium, one of the main fungal pathogens, can infect field crops and cause great economic loss. This paper concerns a research on the antifungal activity of camphor. In our study, an assessment was made on the antifungal activity of camphor against four common phytopathogens: Fusarium oxysporum G5, F. solani G9, F. verticillioide, and F. graminearum. The method adopted was mycelial growth inhibition. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of camphor against the four tested fungi were 4.0, 4.0, 4.0, and 2.0 mg/mL, and the half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were 2.0, 2.0, 2.0, and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. The paper proper also involves an investigation the, fungicidal mechanisms via cell membrane permeability, proteins and nucleic acids leakage and scanning electron microscopy. The results of preliminary antifungal mechanism revealed that camphor can cause cytomembrane destruction, enhancing the permeability of cytomembrane and releasing intracellular macromolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins. Supposedly, the results suggested that the cytomembrane may be the target of camphor. In addition, these outcomes indicated that camphor can exhibit pronounced fungicidal activities against the four tested fungi and could be a promising alternative for the control of phytopathogenic Fusarium.