Evaluation of the biotechnological potential of microorganisms in the production of antibacterial substances for use in agriculture.

Abstract

Bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas affect agricultural crops of great economic importance in Brazil. Generally the control of these bacteria is performed by the use of synthetic chemicals compounds (mostly copper based), among other practices, that cause negative impacts on health and the environment, making the search for sustainable alternatives to combat these bacteria increasingly more important. A possible alternative to the synthetic chemicals that has aroused great interest is the application of natural microbial products. In this sense, our research group has dedicated itself to the search for fungi that produce compounds with potential action against Xanthomonas. Recently we found fungi, isolated from Antarctica, producers of antibacterial activity extracts against Xanthomonas responsible for diseases in citrus and passion fruit. In another work we discovered some endophytic fungi associated with Passiflora incarnata with potential for compound production in the fight against Xanthomonas responsible for the bacteriosis in passion fruit. These results are of great importance in the search for natural antibacterial compounds for the use in agriculture. Thus the present project intends to continue these studies, evaluating the activity of these extracts directly in citrus and passion fruit plants, purifying and identifying the bioactive compounds against Xanthomonas. In addition, this project also proposes to investigate (in vitro and in plant) the action of fungi isolated from the rhizosphere under oranges cultivation against X. citri subsp. citri. Thus, this work may result in obtaining fungi, extracts and/or natural products with high antibacterial potential to be used in agriculture. (AU)