Efficacy of benzimidazole and related fungicides against Rhizoctonia solani and R. bataticola

Five formulations of four benzimidazole derived fungicides, carbendazim, benomyl, thiophanate methyl and methyl 4-[2-(2-dimethylamino acetamide) phenyl]-3-thioallophanate were compared for their toxicity towards two pathogenic isolates of Rhizoctonia solani and three of R. bataticola. The isolates of two fungi showed significant differences in mycelial growth inhibition by the five fungicides. Benomyl and carbendazim were most inhibitory to all isolates of both fungi while the sesame isolate of R. bataticola was least sensitive to all fungicides. Disease control (90%) was obtained with low concentrations of benomyl against root rot of cowpea caused by R. solani, and with thiophanate methyl against root rot of sesame and sunflower, and leaf blight of mung bean caused by R. bataticola. The spread of stalk-end rot of sunflower heads was best checked with a spray of thiophanate methyl. The results suggest that benzimidazole fungicides having similar toxophores act differently for disease control in different host-parasite combinations.     

Fractal Analysis of Binding and Dissociation Kinetics and Interactions of Cancer Markers on Biosensor Surfaces

A fractal analysis is presented for the binding and dissociation of different cancer markers on biosensor surfaces. The data analyzed include putrescine in solution to PDDA/APTES/MWCNT/Puo-modified GCE (glassy carbon electrode) () and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in solution to the soluble form of the VEGF receptor (SFlt-1 or VEGF-1) immobilized on a sensor chip (). Single- and dual-fractal models were used to fit the data. Values of the binding and dissociation rate coefficient(s), affinity values, and the fractal dimensions were obtained from the regression analysis provided by Corel Quattro Pro 8.0 (). The binding rate coefficients and the affinity values are sensitive to the degree of heterogeneity on the sensor chip surface. Predictive equations are developed for the binding rate coefficient as a function of the heterogeneity present on the biosensor chip surface. The analysis presented provides physical insights into these cancer biomarker-receptor reactions occurring on the different biosensor surfaces.