Photochemical degradation of bismerthiazol: structural characterisation of the photoproducts and their inhibitory activities against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

Photodegradation increased the inhibitory activity of bismerthiazol against Xoo. The photodegradation pathway was inferred on the basis of the photoproducts of bismerthiazol. In vitro assays indicated that the sulfhydryl group was crucial for the inhibition of Xoo by bismerthiazol and its photoproducts. Bismerthiazol and 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole might have a similar mode action in vivo and in vitro.