Fungal endophytes from the three-leaved caper, Crataeva magna (Lour.) DC. (Capparidaceae).

Fungal endophytes were isolated from Crataeva magna, a medicinal plant growing along the streams and rivers, constituting riparian vegetation in Karnataka, southern India. Fresh bark and twig pieces were used for the isolation using standard methods. Ninety-six endophytic fungal isolates were isolated from 800 bark and twig segments. Mitosporic fungi represented as a major group (85%) followed by zygomycetes (10%) and ascomycetes (5%). Bark samples contained more endophytes than twig samples. Verticillium, Nigrospora oryzae and Fusarium verticilloides were the dominant fungal endophytes.

Synthesis and anti-mildew activity of 5-(2-aroyl)aryloxymethyl-2-phenyl-1 ,3,4-oxadiazoles against downy mildew of pearl millet.

A manipulatively simple, rapid, high-yielding and environmentally benign method for the integration of a heterocyclic ring, 1,3,4-oxadiazole, at the benzophenone nucleus has been achieved through intramolecular cyclization of substituted aroylaryloxyacetohydrazides to substituted 5-(2-aroyl)aryloxymethyl-2-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles under solventless 'dry' conditions using montmorillonite K10 clay and microwave irradiation. A comparison is made of the microwave-accelerated reaction with conventional heating conditions. Certain of the derivatives tested showed significant anti-mildew activity against Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc) Schroeter, the downy mildew pathogen of pearl millet.