Fluorine-containing amphiphilic quaternary ammonium salts for the suppression of Banana fusarium wilt

Abstract

As the pathogen of banana Fusarium wilt, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4 (Foc4) has the strongest toxicity and pathogenicity due to its long-term viability in soil, but there is still no effective way to control it at present. Based on the activity parameters of polymeric quaternary ammonium salt in our previous work, this paper hopes to enhance the amphiphilicity of polymeric quaternary ammonium salt by introducing a fluoroalkyl group to improve the antifungal property of polymeric quaternary ammonium salt and achieve stable adsorption and long-term inhibition of saprophytic Foc4 conidia in soil. Here, we prepared a series of fluorine-containing ammonium salts with random and block structures by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), and we systematically studied the effects of the introduction of fluoroalkyl groups, the proportion of hydrophobic segments and polymer structure on micelle properties, antifungal properties, adsorption, migration and long-term antifungal properties against Foc4 in soil. Finally, the preferred polymeric quaternary ammonium salts were selected for pot experiments in the prevention and control of banana Fusarium wilt caused by Foc4, and positive experimental results were achieved. In conclusion, we made an exploratory attempt at the practical application of polymeric amphiphilic quaternary ammonium salt in plant disease control.