Antifungal compounds from the root and root exudate of Zea mays

Abstract

A maize plant (Zea mays) planted in a test tube was found to inhibit the growth of the soil-borne plant pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae. The antifungal compounds, 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone and 6,7- dimethoxybenzoxazolinone, were isolated from an ethanol extract of Zea mays roots, and (6R)-7,8-dihydro-3-oxo-α-ionone and (6R, 9R)-7,8-dihydro-3-oxo- α-ionol were isolated from the root exudate.