Identification, pathogenicity and effects of plant extracts on Neopestalotiopsis and Pseudopestalotiopsis causing fruit diseases.

Pestalotiopsis and related genera, including Neopestalotiopsis and Pseudopestalotiopsis have damaged many plants for many decades; however, there is little available information about the fungi on tropical fruit in Thailand. This study isolated and characterized pestalotioid fungi on tropical fruit, investigated host specificity, and screened whether plant extracts could control the fungi. In total, 53 diseased fruit samples were sampled from eight types of fruit trees (jackfruit, rose apple, mangosteen, plum, snake fruit, rambutan, strawberry, and avocado). Based on morphological characteristics, 44 isolates were classified as belonging to pestalotioid taxa. Of these isolates, seven with distinct characteristics were selected for identification using molecular analysis, and six isolates were identified as Neopestalotiopsis and one as Pseudopestalotiopsis. In the cross-inoculation experiment, the isolates exhibited nonhost specificity and could infect at least two host plants. The isolates were used to screen for a potential biocontrol resource using six crude plant extracts (clove, ginger, lemongrass, mangosteen, roselle, and turmeric). All crude extracts except mangosteen could inhibit the growth of Neopestalotiopsis and Pseudopestalotiopsis. Application of crude plant extracts could be a potential treatment to control these diseases on tropical fruit.

Chromone derivatives, R- and S- taeniolin, from the marine-derived fungus Taeniolella sp. BCC31839.

Two unknown enantiomeric compounds, named (R)- and (S)-taeniolin, along with six known compounds, were isolated from the marine-associated fungus Taeniolella sp. BCC31839. Chemical structures were determined by NMR spectroscopic techniques, and the absolute configurations were confirmed by Mosher application together with CD spectral analyses. Both were inactive for antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) and bacteria (Mycobacerium tuberculosis and Bacillus cereus) at maximum tested concentration.

Xanthones from a lignicolous freshwater fungus (BCC 28210).

Four xanthones (1‒4) and a known compound, mansonone D (5), were isolated from the lignicolous freshwater fungus BCC 28210 (family, Chaetosphaeriaceae). The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Among the isolated metabolites, compound 2 and the known mansonone D (5) displayed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 with IC50 values of 7.75 and 0.55 µg/mL, respectively. Compound 4 displayed antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus with an MIC value of 6.25 µg/mL.

Two new drimane sesquiterpenes, fudecadiones A and B, from the soil fungus Penicillium sp. BCC 17468.

Two new drimane sesquiterpenoids, fudecadione A and fudecadione B (1, 2), together with the known brefeldin A (3) and fulvic acid (4), were isolated from the soil fungus Penicillium sp. BCC 17468. Chemical structures were determined based on spectroscopic evidence including 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectral data. The proposed relative stereochemistry of fudecadiones A and B was based upon NOESY spectral data and chemical means. Compounds 1 and 4 exhibited anticancer activity against MCF-7, KB, and NCI-H187, with IC (50) values in the range of 5.05-45.43 µg/mL, while compound 2 was inactive against these tumor cells. Brefeldin (3) also displayed antimalarial activity against PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM (K1, multidrug-resistant strain), with an IC (50) value of 1.12 µg/mL.