Effect of Synthetic Polylysine on Fungi.

The synthetic, basic poly-alpha-amino acid, polylysine, had antifungal activity against plant pathogens (three strains of fusaria, three isolates of verticillia, and Ceratocystis fimbriata) and against the human pathogens (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, and Candida albicans) in vitro. It inhibited penetration of Ceratocystis fimbriata on sweet potato slices. Polylysine inhibited the infection of tomato cuttings by Flsarium oxysporum f. lycopersici, but it was also toxic to the plants.