Metabolites from Nematophagous Fungi and Nematicidal Natural Products from Fungi as Alternatives for Biological Control. Part II: Metabolites from Nematophagous Basidiomycetes and Non-nematophagous Fungi
- Author: mycolabadmin
- 2016-01-04
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Summary
This research examines natural compounds produced by fungi that could help control harmful nematode worms that damage crops and affect livestock. These fungal compounds offer potential environmentally-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides.
Impacts on everyday life:
– Could lead to safer, natural methods for protecting food crops from nematode damage
– May provide new treatments for controlling parasitic worms in livestock
– Offers more environmentally sustainable alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides
– Could help reduce crop losses and improve food security
– May lower pesticide residues in food products
Background
The chemical ecology of nematophagous fungi remains poorly understood, with limited screening for metabolites in nematophagous fungi or nematicidal metabolites in other fungi since pioneering studies in the 1990s. This review examines nematicidal metabolites from both nematophagous basidiomycetes and non-nematophagous fungi as potential alternatives for biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes.
Objective
To review and analyze 101 nematicidal and non-nematicidal secondary metabolites produced by nematophagous basidiomycetes and non-nematophagous fungi, evaluating their potential as biological control agents against phytopathogenic nematodes.
Results
Several compounds showed promising nematicidal activity, particularly thermolides A and B, omphalotins, ophiobolins, bursaphelocides A and B, illinitone A, pseudohalonectrins A and B, dichomitin B, and caryopsomycins A-C. These compounds demonstrated potential as biocontrol agents against phytopathogenic nematodes. Additionally, paraherquamides, clonostachydiol, and nafuredins showed promise for controlling intestinal nematodes in ruminants.
Conclusion
The review identified multiple promising fungal metabolites for nematode control, though challenges remain regarding production scale-up and stability of some compounds. Several compounds merit further investigation as potential biological control agents, with some showing activity comparable to commercial standards. The diversity of chemical structures involved makes prediction of nematicidal activity difficult, necessitating broad screening approaches.
- Published in:Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,
- Study Type:Review,
- Source: 10.1007/s00253-015-7234-5