Proteinase Inhibitors from Plants As a Novel Class of Fungicides. M. Lorito. Istituto di Patologia Vegetale, Universita degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II," 80055 Portici (NA), Italy. R. M. Broadway(3), C. K. Hayes(2), S. L. Woo(1), C. Noviello(1), D. L. Williams(3), and G. E. Harman(2). (1) Istituto di Patologia Vegetale, Universita degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II," 80055 Portici (NA), Italy, and (2) Department of Horticultural Sciences and Plant Pathology and (3) department of Entomology, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456 U.S.A. MPMI 7:525-527. Accepted 4 March 1994. Copyright 1994 The American Phytopathological Society.

A purified preparation of trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors from cabbage foliage showed antifungal activity in vitro. The inhibitors suppressed spore germination and germ tube elongation of two species of phytopathogenic fungi but had no effect on a fungus that specifically attacks cabbage. Microscopic examination indicated that the inhibitors caused leakage of the intracellular contents from the susceptible species of fungi.