Endophytic Fungi: Biological Control and Induced Resistance to Phytopathogens and Abiotic Stresses.

Plant diseases cause losses of approximately 16% globally. Thus, management measures must be implemented to mitigate losses and guarantee food production. In addition to traditional management measures, induced resistance and biological control have gained ground in agriculture due to their enormous potential. Endophytic fungi internally colonize plant tissues and have the potential to act as control agents, such as biological agents or elicitors in the process of induced resistance and in attenuating abiotic stresses. In this review, we list the mode of action of this group of microorganisms which can act in controlling plant diseases and describe several examples in which endophytes were able to reduce the damage caused by pathogens and adverse conditions. This is due to their arsenal of molecules generated during the interaction by which they form a kind of biological shield in the plant. Furthermore, considering that endophytic fungi can be an important tool in managing for biotic and abiotic stresses due to the large amount of biologically active substances produced, bioprospecting this class of microorganisms is tending to increase and generate valuable products for agriculture.

Biological and Chemical Control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum using Stachybotrys levispora and Its Secondary Metabolite Griseofulvin.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is responsible for the white mold of soybeans, and the difficulty to control the disease in Brazil is causing million-dollar damages. Stachybotrys levispora has shown activity against S. sclerotiorum. In our present investigation, we analyzed the chemical basis of this inhibition. Eight compounds were isolated, and using spectroscopic methods, we identified their structures as the known substances 7-dechlorogriseofulvin, 7-dechlorodehydrogriseofulvin, griseofulvin, dehydrogriseofulvin, 3,13-dihydroxy-5,9,11-trimethoxy-1-methylbenzophenone, griseophenone A, 13-hydroxy-3,5,9,11-tetramethoxy-1-methylbenzophenone, and 12-chloro-13-hydroxy-3,5,9,11-tetramethoxy-1-methylbenzophenone. Griseofulvin inhibited the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum at 2 µg mL-1. Thus, the antagonistic effect of S. levispora to S. sclerotiorum may well be due to the presence of griseofulvins. Our results stimulate new work on the biosynthesis of griseofulvins, to locate genes that encode key enzymes in these routes and use them to increase the production of these compounds and thus potentiate the fungicide effect of this fungus. S. levispora represents an agent for biocontrol, and griseofulvin represents a fungicide to S. sclerotiorum.

Proteomic response of the phytopathogen Phyllosticta citricarpa to antimicrobial volatile organic compounds from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by Saccharomyces cerevisiae inhibit plant pathogens, including the filamentous fungus Phyllosticta citricarpa, causal agent of citrus black spot. VOCs mediate relevant interactions between organisms in nature, and antimicrobial VOCs are promising, environmentally safer fumigants to control phytopathogens. As the mechanisms by which VOCs inhibit microorganisms are not well characterized, we evaluated the proteomic response in P. citricarpa after exposure for 12h to a reconstituted mixture of VOCs (alcohols and esters) originally identified in S. cerevisiae. Total protein was extracted and separated by 2D-PAGE, and differentially expressed proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS. About 600 proteins were detected, of which 29 were downregulated and 11 were upregulated. These proteins are involved in metabolism, genetic information processing, cellular processes, and transport. Enzymes related to energy-generating pathways, particularly glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, were the most strongly affected. Thus, the data indicate that antimicrobial VOCs interfere with essential metabolic pathways in P. citricarpa to prevent fungal growth.

In vivo determination of the volatile metabolites of saprotroph fungi by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.

In this work, we discuss the use of multiway principal component analysis combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography to study the volatile metabolites of the saprophytic fungus Memnoniella sp. isolated in vivo by headspace solid-phase microextraction. This fungus has been identified as having the ability to induce plant resistance against pathogens, possibly through its volatile metabolites. Adequate culture media were inoculated, and its headspace was then sampled with a solid-phase microextraction fiber and chromatographed every 24 h over seven days. The raw chromatogram processing using multiway principal component analysis allowed the determination of the inoculation period, during which the concentration of volatile metabolites was maximized, as well as the discrimination of the appropriate peaks from the complex culture media background. Several volatile metabolites not previously described in the literature on biocontrol fungi were observed, as well as sesquiterpenes and aliphatic alcohols. These results stress that, due to the complexity of multidimensional chromatographic data, multivariate tools might be mandatory even for apparently trivial tasks, such as the determination of the temporal profile of metabolite production and extinction. However, when compared with conventional gas chromatography, the complex data processing yields a considerable improvement in the information obtained from the samples.

Effect of Agaricus brasiliensis and Lentinula edodes mushrooms on the infection of passionflower with Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the protection of passion fruit plants against CABMV by using preparations from Agaricus brasiliensis and Lentinula edodes mushrooms. In experiments carried out in the greenhouse, the fruiting body extracts from some of the isolates of both mushrooms significantly reduced CABMV incidence in passion fruit plants. This protective effect occurred when the plant leaves, pre-treated with extracts, were later inoculated mechanically with the virus. However, the extracts did not protect the plants in experiments involving CABMV transmission by aphid vectors. An inhibitory effect of mushroom extracts on the virus particles was also demonstrated on Chenopodium quinoa, a CABMV local lesion host, by inoculating the plants with a mixture of extracts and virus suspension. Still in C. quinoa, the mushroom extracts from some isolates induced systemic resistance against the virus. These results showed that aqueous extracts from A. brasiliensis and L. edodes fruiting bodies had CABMV infectivity inhibitors, but that was not enough to control the viral disease on passion fruit plants at all, considering they were infected through a vector.

O endurecimento dos frutos do maracujazeiro, causado pelo Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV), é um dos problemas mais sérios que atingem a cultura. Tentativas de se obter plantas resistentes ao vírus ou estirpes fracas premunizantes não apresentaram sucesso até o momento. O objetivo do presente estudo foi o de avaliar a proteção das plantas de maracujá contra o CABMV, utilizando preparações dos cogumelos Lentinula edodes e Agaricus blazei, através da indução de resistência. Em experimentos conduzidos no interior de casa de vegetação, os extratos de basidiocarpos de ambos os cogumelos reduziram significativamente a incidência da virose em plantas de maracujá que tiveram as folhas pré-tratadas com esses extratos e que foram posteriormente inoculadas mecanicamente com o CABMV. No entanto, os extratos não protegeram as plantas em experimentos envolvendo a transmissão do CABMV pelo afídeo-vetor. O efeito inibidor dos extratos foi confirmado inoculando-se Chenopodium quinoa com uma mistura de extratos e suspensão viral. Ainda em C. quinoa, um hospedeiro de lesão local do CABMV, os extratos de alguns isolados dos cogumelos induziram resistência sistêmica contra o vírus. Os resultados mostram que os extratos aquosos de basidiocarpos de L. edodes e A. blazei contêm substâncias inibidoras da infectividade do CABMV, mas isso não é o suficiente para o controle pleno da virose em plantas de maracujá, considerando que elas são infectadas através de um vetor.

Chitosan reduces infection by Guignardia citricarpa in postharvest 'Valencia' oranges

Citrus fruits are affected by the black spot disease caused by Guignardia citricarpa. Resistance induction is an alternative control measure and chitosan exhibits potential as resistance inducer. The effect of chitosan on G. citricarpa was evaluated in vitro and in 'Valencia' oranges. Citrus fruit were immersed into different chitosan concentrations. Chitosan (2 percent), combined with or without thiabendazole and the citric acid was also investigated. All the chitosan concentrations inhibited G. citricarpa mycelial growth and affected morphologically the conidial germination and appressorium formation. Chitosan inhibited the development of new lesions in oranges at room condition or under refrigeration. Thiabendazole and citric acid did not reduce the formation of lesions. Biochemical analysis revealed that chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase activities were increased in chitosan-treated fruits. Thus, the effect of chitosan on the reduction of black spots in 'Valencia' oranges could be due to the germicidal effect on the pathogen and/or resistance induction in the fruit.

Frutos cítricos são afetados pela mancha preta dos citros, causada por Guignardia citricarpa.A indução de resistência é uma alternativa de controle e a quitosana exibe potencial como indutor de resistência. O efeito da quitosana sobre G. citricarpa foi avaliado in vitro e em laranjas 'Valência'. Frutos cítricos foram imersos em diferentes concentrações de quitosana. Quitosana (2 por cento), associada ou não com tiabendazol e ácido cítrico, foi também avaliada. Todas as concentrações de quitosana inibiram o crescimento micelial de G. citricarpa e afetaram morfologicamente a germinação dos conídios e a formação de apressórios. Quitosana inibiu o desenvolvimento de novas lesões em laranjas em condições ambiente e sob refrigeração. Tiabendazol e ácido cítrico não reduziram o aparecimento de novas lesões. Análises bioquímicas revelaram que atividades de quitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase e polifenoloxidase aumentaram em frutos tratados com quitosana. Portanto, a capacidade da quitosana na redução da mancha preta em laranja 'Valência' pode ser devida ao efeito germicida sobre o patógeno e/ou a indução de resistência no tecido do fruto.

Expression and purification of cellulase Xf818 from Xylella fastidiosa in Escherichia coli.

Xylella fastidiosa was the first plant pathogen whose complete genome sequence was available. X. fastidiosa causes citrus variegated chlorosis, but the physiological basis of the disease in unknown. Through comparative sequence analysis, several putative plant cell wall-degrading enzymes were identified on the X. fastidiosa genome. We have cloned Xf818, a putative endoglucanase ORF, into expression vectors pET20b and pET28b, and purified a recombinant form of Xf818 containing a His(6) tag. Through biochemical assays, we have characterized the endoglucanase activity of this protein. The best conditions for hydrolysis over carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were on pH 5.2 at 65 degrees C. Xf818 hydrolyzed CMC, acid swollen cellulose, Avicel, birch wood, oat spels xylans, and the oligosaccharides cellotetraose and cellopentaose. Xf818 carried out transglycosylation and had a functional cellulose-binding domain.

Detection of trypsin inhibitor in seeds of Eucalyptus urophilla and its influence on the in vitro growth of the fungi Pisolithus tinctorius and Rhizoctonia solani

Inhibitors of plant protease can regulate the hydrolysis of proteins inside the cells and also participate in the mechanisms of plant defense against herbivore insects and pathogens. Here, we demonstrated that seeds of Eucalyptus urophylla exhibit activities of trypsin and papain inhibitors, two proteases commonly found in living cells, Low amounts of proteins of the crude protein extract of seeds and fractions partially purified by gel filtration, with inhibitory activity against trypsin, inhibited in vitro the mycelial growth of a compatible isolate of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius and allowed an unsatisfactory growth of another isolate from Pinus taeda, considered incompatible for this eucalyptus. The same amounts of inhibitory proteins, when tested in vitro on the pathogen Rhizoctonia solani, did not exhibit any effect on the growth of the pathogen. These results indicate the existence of proteases inhibitors in seeds of E. urophylla which could influence the complex biochemical system that differentiates mechanisms of symbiosis and pathogenicity between plants and microorganisms.