Base-catalyzed condensation of 2-hydroxyacetophenone with araldehydes gave 3-aryl-l-(2-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-l-ones with E-configuration, which on cyclization with hydrazine hydrate afforded the title ligands, 5-aryl-4, 5-dihydro-3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyrazoles (ADHP; Ar = Ph, 4-CH3O-C6H4-, 2-furyl, 2-thienyl; HL1 - HL4). Reaction of HL1 - HL4 with divalent metal ions, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+, afforded novel coordination compounds of the type [ML2FbO)2] (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) which were characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight determinations, molar conductances, magnetic moments, electronic and infrared spectral data. The ligands behaved as bidentates, coordinating through the phenolic oxygen after deprotonation and N-2 of the pyrazole ring. The ligands and their complexes were evaluated for growth-inhibiting activity against phytopathogenic fungi namely, Alternaria alternate/, Colletotrichum falcatum, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia bataticola. Some of the ligands and their metal complexes exhibited promising activity.