Metabolism of benzoxazolinone allelochemicals of Zea mays by Fusarium subglutinans

The ability of the maize pathogen Fusarium subglutinans to metabolize benzo xazolin-2(3H)-one (BOA) and 6-methoxybenzoxazolin-2(3H)-one (MBOA), importa nt allelochemicals of Zea mays, was studied. Growth of mycelium was complet ely inhibited by 10 mM BOA and reduced by lower concentrations. In vitro th e fungus completely degraded 1 mM concentrations of BOA and MBOA within 2 d . N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-malonamic acid and N-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-malo namic acid were identified as the main degradation products of these allelo chemicals.