In the present study, using chalcone as a lead compound, a series of its derivatives (compounds 1-30) were designed and synthesised. Their activity of anti-pathogenic fungi of plants has been evaluated. It is found that these compounds have good antifungal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Helminthosprium maydis, Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani and Gibberella zeae. Among them, the inhibition of growth for compound 30 against S. sclerotiorum showed 89.9%, with the median effective concentrations (EC50) of 15.4 μg mL(-1). The inhibition of growth for compounds 28, 29 and 30 at a concentration of 100 μg mL(-1) against H. maydis is 90.3%, 90.7% and 91.1%, with EC50 of 15.1, 18.3 and 18.1μg mL(-1), respectively.
Keywords: antifungal activity; chalcone derivatives; inhibition of growth.