Enzyme Production by Induratia spp. Isolated from Coffee Plants in Brazil

Abstract Endophytic fungi belonging to the genus Muscodor now transferred to Induratia are known producers of bioactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with many industrial applications. However, the members of this genus have rarely been reported to produce non-volatile metabolites including enzyme. Enzymes of the endophytes are degraders of the polysaccharides available in the host plants and the knowledge of enzyme production by Induratia spp. may provide insights into their possible biotechnological applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of amylase, cellulase, lipase, pectinase, phytase, protease, endo β-1,4 glucanase and exo β-1,4 glucanase enzymes produced by fungi of the species Induratia coffeana, Induratia yucatanensis and Induratia sp. isolated from organic coffee plants. All Induratia spp. were able to produce the extracellular enzymes cellulase, pectinase, protease, and phytase. Eight fungi were able to produce lipase and four produced amylase. The specific activity of endo β-1, 4 glucanase and exo β-1,4 glucanase enzymes were detected for 9 and 8 endophytic fungi, respectively. This work demonstrated for the first time, the array of enzymes produced by Induratia spp. isolated from Coffea arabica in organic systems in Brazil.

Antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi from coffee plants / Atividade antimicrobiana de fungos endofíticos de plantas de café

Endophytic fungi are a promising source for discovery of compounds with biotechnological potential. The aim of this study was to select and identify endophytic fungi from Coffea arabica that produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), evaluate the effect of the VOCs produced by endophytic fungi on the growth of Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Phoma sp., Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium solani, Fusarium verticillioides, Cercospora coffeicola and Pestalotia longisetula, and select endophytic fungi with potential for biological control of Aspergillus ochraceus inoculated in coffee beans and F. verticillioides inoculated in corn seeds. An isolate of Muscodor albus was used as selection tool for VOC producing fungi. Among the 400 endophytic fungi isolates, 11 were able to grow in the presence of VOCs produced by M. albus. These fungi were identified as Muscodor spp. (9) and Simplicillium sp. according to searches in UNITE database using DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS). The VOC's produced by endophytic fungi inhibited the growth the phytopathogenic fungi with different efficacies, compared to the control. The VOCs produced by Muscodor coffeanum (COAD 1842) showed fungicidal effect against A. ochraceus on coffee beans. Six endophytic fungi completely inhibited growth of F. verticillioides inoculated in corn seeds. This study demonstrates that the volatile-compound producing endophytic fungi, isolated from Coffea arabica, are promising sources of bioactive compounds.

Fungos endofíticos são uma fonte promissora para a descoberta de compostos com potencial biotecnológico. O objetivo deste estudo foi selecionar e identificar fungos endofíticos de Coffea arabica que produzem compostos orgânicos voláteis (COVs), avaliar o efeito dos compostos orgânicos voláteis produzido por fungos endofíticos sobre o crescimento de Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Phoma sp., Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium solani, Fusarium verticillioides, Cercospora coffeicola e Pestalotia longisetula e selecionar fungos endofíticos com potencial para controle biológico de Aspergillus ochraceus inoculado em grãos de café e F. verticillioides inoculado em sementes de milho. Um isolado de Muscodor albus foi utilizado como ferramenta de seleção para fungos endofíticos produtores de COVs. Dentre os 400 fungos endofíticos isolados, 11 foram capazes de crescer na presença de COVs produzidos por M. albus. Estes fungos foram identificados como Muscodor spp. (9) e Simplicillium sp. de acordo com pesquisas na base de dados UNITE usando sequências de DNA do espaçador transcrito interno (ITS). Os COVs produzidos por fungos endofíticos inibiram o crescimento dos fungos fitopatogênicos em comparação com o controle com diferentes eficácias. Os COVs produzidos por Muscodor coffeanum (COAD 1842) apresentou efeito fungicida contra A. ochraceus em grãos de café. Seis fungos endofíticos inibiram completamente o crescimento de F. verticillioides inoculado em sementes de milho. Este estudo demonstra que os fungos endofíticos produtores de compostos voláteis isolados de Coffea arabica são fontes promissoras de compostos bioativos.