Production of Gentisyl Alcohol from Phoma herbarum Endophytic in Curcuma longa L. and Its Antagonistic Activity Towards Leaf Spot Pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2016 Nov;180(6):1093-1109. doi: 10.1007/s12010-016-2154-0. Epub 2016 Jun 11.

Abstract

Endophytes from medicinal plants represent a potential source of bioactive compounds. During the present investigation, fungal endophytes were isolated from turmeric (Curcuma longa), an important medicinal plant. A total of 207 endophytic fungal isolates were obtained from the rhizome of C. longa L. They were grouped into seven genera based on morphological and molecular data. The fungal endophytes of C. longa were evaluated for antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the causal organism of leaf spot of turmeric. The disease is a major cause for economic loss in turmeric cultivation. Endophytic Phoma herbarum showed significant activity against C. gloeosporioides and was therefore selected for further studies. A compound gentisyl alcohol was isolated from P. herbarum which showed effective antagonism against C. gloeosporioides. The organism could therefore be used as a biocontrol agent against C. gloeosporioides.

Keywords: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides; Endophytic fungi; Gentisyl alcohol; Leaf spot; Phoma; Turmeric.

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Ascomycota / drug effects
  • Ascomycota / metabolism*
  • Benzyl Alcohols / metabolism*
  • Benzyl Alcohols / pharmacology*
  • Colletotrichum / drug effects*
  • Curcuma / microbiology*
  • Endophytes / drug effects
  • Endophytes / isolation & purification
  • Endophytes / metabolism*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology*
  • Plant Leaves / microbiology*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Benzyl Alcohols
  • 2,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol