Rhamnolipids are a group of biosurfactants that can be used for controlling zoosporic plant pathogens. These plant pests can cause major crop damage during the rainy seasons. It is well known that soybeans have been susceptible to zoospore based fungal attacks. In this article, the anti-zoospore effects different rhamnolipid molecules and the degradation products (diacids) were tested for their ability to destroy Phytophthora sojae zoospores.
The amount of rhamnolipid needed to effectively stop the zoospore was between 20 to 40 mg/L, depending on the surfactant’s structure. However, diacids needed a concentration of nearly 125 mg/L to be effective.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN: The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Zoospore Lysis: Time = ~1 minute