Octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt widely used as a fungicide in the agricultural field. It is commonly employed to control rice blast disease due to its unique chemical structure and fungicidal properties.
Rice blast fungus (Magnaporthe oryzae) is one of the most serious diseases affecting rice production. Studies have shown that Octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride exhibits significant biological activity against rice blast fungus. Octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride can bind to the negatively charged components of the fungal cell wall, alter membrane permeability, disrupt cell membrane integrity, and induce cell death in the rice blast fungus.
The mechanism of action of Octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride can be attributed to the following aspects:
1. Cell membrane disruption: The cationic moiety of Octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride interacts with the anionic components of the rice blast fungus cell wall, leading to the disruption of cell membrane structure and function, resulting in leakage of cellular contents and cell death.
2. Enzyme activity inhibition: Stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride can inhibit the activity of crucial enzymes in the rice blast fungus, thereby interfering with normal metabolism and biological functions, and causing cellular damage and death.
3. Nutrient supply blockade: Octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride can inhibit the uptake and utilization of essential nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in the rice blast fungus, limiting hyphal development, and thereby affecting its growth and reproductive capacity.
4. Inhibition of spore germination: The dissemination of rice blast fungus primarily relies on spore germination and spread. Research has demonstrated that Trimethylstearylammonium Chloride can inhibit the germination of rice blast fungus spores, reducing the pathogen's dispersal and transmission in rice fields.
