• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2013

Slightly acidic hypochlorous water (SAHW) is well known for having a powerful and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity, and is harmless to the environment and humans. SAHW (pH 5~6.5, 20~30 ppm available chlorine concentration) was generated by electrolysis of dilute solution of HCl (4%) in a chamber of a non-membrane electrolytic cell. Our objective was to determine SAHW has a potential fungicidal activity on some phytopathogenic fungi. Spores of Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum acutatum and Phytophthora capsici were not culturable on agar media at approximately 10 seconds after treatment by SAHW. However, inactivation of Penicillium hirsutum was required over 3 min. Dilution of SAHW with sterilized distilled water (SDW) at the ratio of 1:1 (SAHW:SDW) against C. acutatum showed 100% inactivation but, the efficacy in 1:2 decreased until 63.2%. Control value of SAHW was 70.4% against C. acutatum on pepper fruits when applied upto 24 h postinoculation. SAHW has a powerful and wide spectrum antifungal activity and could be applied as a potential alternative to fungicidal agent for control of plant disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.178-185
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• 2020

Rice bakanae is a typical seed-borne and seed-transmitted disease caused by infection by Fusarium fujikuroi. Seed disinfection using chemical fungicides (such as benomyl and prochloraz) is most effective in controlling the disease, but the emergence of fungicide-resistant strains has recently been increasing. Slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water (SAHW) is a safe and environmentally friendly disinfectant that has a potent and broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against viruses, bacteria, and fungi. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of SAHW against F. fujikuroi strains, including chemical fungicide-resistant strains, as an alternative to conventional chemical fungicides in the management of bakanae disease. SAHW showed strong but similar levels of antifungal activity among the F. fujikuroi strains with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC₉₀) of 5±2.5 ppm of free available chlorine (FAC). In addition, F. fujikuroi cells lost viability completely within 5 min of SAHW treatment due to the lethal damage to cell integrity. When the rice seeds infected by F. fujikuroi were treated with SAHW containing 20±10 ppm of FAC for 12 hr, the efficiencies of seed disinfection and disease control were 95-98% and 90.1-92.6%, respectively. Altogether, our data suggest that SAHW is an effective compound for controlling rice bakanae disease.