Browsing by Author "Daranagama, D.A."

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Efficacy of methanolic extract of Zingiber officinale against seed-born fungi
(2023) Hansini, Navoda; Sooriyawansha, A.M.S.C.; Jayawardena, P.A.S.N.P.; Kumarathunga, P.G.J.D.; Dananjaya, P.D.H.; Edirisinghe, E.A.C.P.; Alwis, M.D.N.; Daranagama, D.A.; Dahanayake, J.N.; Kadigamuwa, C.C.
This study is focused on determining the efficacy of natural compounds present in Zingiber officinale methanolic plant extraction in controlling seed-born fungal pathogens Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus oryzae. The maximum percentage inhibition of 94.01% and 90.43% was reported against. A. flavus and R. oryzae respectively for the crude extract in the poison food agar method. These results were further confirmed by computational investigation. [4] gingerol, [6]-gingerol, [8]-gingerol, [10]-gingerol, and [6]-dehydroginger phytochemicals identified in the extract were docked to the active sites in chitin synthase from A. flavus and squalene epoxidase from A. flavus and R.oryzae, and to the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) enzyme from R. oryzae. The highest binding energy (BE) (-8.12 kcal/mol) was noticed between the interactions of squalene epoxidase and [6]-dehydroginger, and this complex was subjected to Molecular Dynamic (MD) analysis. MD simulations were performed on protein-ligand complexes for 10 ns using CHARMM36 force field. The mean radius of gyration (Rg), root mean square deviation (RMSD), and root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) were calculated and hydrogen bond analysis (HBA) was also performed. Rg and RMSD results indicated the stability of the protein-ligand complex throughout the simulation time.
Efficacy of methanolic extract of Zingiber officinale against seed-born fungi
(Society for Conservation and Resource Development of Medicinal Plant, New Delhi, India., 2023) Hansini, Navoda; Sooriyawansha, A.M.S.C.; Jayawardena, P.A.S.N.P.; Kumarathunga, P.G.J.D.; Dananjaya, P.D.H.; Edirisinghe, E.A.C.P.; Alwis, M.D.N.; Daranagama, D.A.; Dahanayake, J.N.; Kadigamuwa, C.C.
This study is focused on determining the efficacy of natural compounds present in Zingiber officinale methanolic plant extraction in controlling seed-born fungal pathogens Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus oryzae. The maximum percentage inhibition of 94.01% and 90.43% was reported against. A. flavus and R. oryzae respectively for the crude extract in the poison food agar method. These results were further confirmed by computational investigation. [4]-gingerol, [6]-gingerol, [8]-gingerol, [10]-gingerol, and [6]-dehydroginger phytochemicals identified in the extract were docked to the active sites in chitin synthase from A. flavus and squalene epoxidase from A. flavus and R.oryzae, and to the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) enzyme from R. oryzae. The highest binding energy (BE) (-8.12 kcal/mol) was noticed between the interactions of squalene epoxidase and [6]-dehydroginger, and this complex was subjected to Molecular Dynamic (MD) analysis. MD simulations were performed on protein-ligand complexes for 10 ns using CHARMM36 force field. The mean radius of gyration (Rg), root mean square deviation (RMSD), and root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) were calculated and hydrogen bond analysis (HBA) was also performed. Rg and RMSD results indicated the stability of the protein-ligand complex throughout the simulation time.
Fungi vs. Fungi in Biocontrol: An Overview of Fungal Antagonists Applied Against Fungal Plant Pathogens
(Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiology, 2020) Thambugala, K.M.; Daranagama, D.A.; Phillips, A.J.L.; Kannangara, S.D.; Promputtha, I.
Plant pathogens cause severe losses or damage to crops worldwide and thereby significantly reduce the quality and quantity of agricultural commodities. World tendencies are shifting towards reducing the usage of chemically synthesized pesticides, while various biocontrol methods, strategies and approaches are being used in plant disease management. Fungal antagonists play a significant role in controlling plant pathogens and diseases and they are used as Biocontrol Agents (BCAs) throughout the world. This review provides a comprehensive list of fungal BCAs used against fungal plant pathogens according to modern taxonomic concepts, and clarifies their phylogenetic relationships because thewrong names are frequently used in the literature of biocontrol. Details of approximately 300 fungal antagonists belonging to 13 classes and 113 genera are listed together with the target pathogens and corresponding plant diseases. Trichoderma is identified as the genus with greatest potential comprising 25 biocontrol agents that have been used against a number of plant fungal diseases. In addition to Trichoderma, nine genera are recognized as significant comprising five or more known antagonistic species, namely, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Candida, Fusarium, Penicillium, Pichia, Pythium, Talaromyces, and Verticillium. A phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of the 28S nrRNA gene (LSU) of fungal antagonists was performed to establish their phylogenetic relationships.