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Biocontrol Properties of Basidiomycetes: An Overview

Summary

This research examines how mushrooms (Basidiomycetes) can be used as natural alternatives to chemical pesticides in agriculture. These fungi produce compounds that can fight plant diseases and control agricultural pests in an environmentally friendly way. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides safer alternatives to chemical pesticides for growing food • Reduces toxic chemical residues in fruits and vegetables • Helps develop more sustainable farming practices • Offers new solutions for organic farming and gardening • Could lead to cheaper and more environmentally-friendly crop protection products

Background

Synthetic chemicals are extensively used globally for controlling agricultural pests and plant pathogens, with 15% of global crop production currently lost due to crop pests. These agrochemicals cause environmental pollution, leave residues in food, and lead to pesticide resistance. There is an urgent need for alternate ecofriendly products with new modes of action, cost effectiveness, biodegradability, and target specificity.

Objective

This review aims to discuss and analyze the potential role of Basidiomycetes (mushrooms) as biocontrol agents, specifically examining their anti-phytofungal, anti-phytobacterial, anti-phytoviral, mosquito larvicidal, and nematicidal properties.

Results

The review found that Basidiomycetes produce numerous bioactive compounds effective against plant pathogens. Key compounds like strobilurins showed strong antifungal properties. Compounds like Ganodermin and Pleurostrin demonstrated activity against plant pathogenic fungi. Various species showed antibacterial effects against plant bacterial pathogens. Some species produced compounds with antiviral activity against plant viruses like tobacco mosaic virus. Several species showed strong nematicidal and mosquito larvicidal properties through various mechanisms.

Conclusion

Basidiomycetes occupy a prominent position in biological research due to their antimicrobial, insecticidal, and nematicidal properties. They are easily available, cultivable, and economical sources of bioactive compounds. Their secondary metabolites can be produced cost-effectively for crop protection. More research is needed to understand mechanisms of action and commercialize potential bioactive metabolites as alternatives to synthetic chemicals.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.3390/jof3010002
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