Plant pathogenic fungi produce secondary metabolites that are toxic to host plants. These fungi have evolved to survive in the biosphere by producing secondary metabolites to compete with other fungi, plants and insects. Thus, these toxins can have various biological activities such as antifungal, insecticidal and phytotoxic activities. We have investigated some plant pathogenic fungi in search of natural products that can be used as herbicides or can be used as lead compounds in designing herbicides. Phomalactone isolated from Nigrospora spherica, a plant pathogenic fungus, was found to be phytotoxic and mosquitocidal. From the culture medium of Curvularia intermedia, αβ-dehydrocurvularin was isolated as a phytotoxin. Pyricularia grisea is a fungus selective to monocots. From the culture broth of this fungus, pyrichalasin was isolated as the phytotoxin. Diaporthe eres was isolated from infected Hedera helix leaves. Isocoumarin was isolated from the culture broth of this fungus and found to have phytotoxic activity. Based on this molecule, several analogs of isocoumarins were synthesized with higher phytotoxic activity. Isolation of active metabolites and synthesis of analogs will be discussed.

Secondary metabolites from plant pathogenic fungi as potential herbicides

254th National Meeting (2017)

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