Biotechnological potential of secondary metabolites from plants and endophytic fungi

Abstract

Brazil is home to the greatest biodiversity in the world and it is believed that this environment hosts plants and micro-organisms considered a promising source for discovering of new natural compounds with various biotechnological applications, such as in the areas medical-pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, agronomy, among others. One of the main problems in agronomy are the pathogens that attack crops causing both economic and social damage. Among them, anthracnose disease, caused by fungi of the genus Colletotrichum which are considered the main pathogens of the world to different cultures, such as peppers, guarana, strawberry, mango, and others. Another important disease worldwide is the witches' broom, caused by the fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa, responsible for the drastic reduction in fruits of cocoa in Brazil, making it decay into sixth place in the world ranking of producers. Current methods of control for both diseases include chemical control, plant pruning and use of resistant clones. Still, the forms of control are costly, ineffective and pose risks to the ecosystem and human health. Thus, this project aims the chemical and biological investigation of secondary metabolites of plants and endophytic fungi with fungitoxic action against agriculture pathogens. The results obtained so far have shown that extracts of plants and endophytic fungi present promising active compounds against plant pathogens. Given this, the pure active compounds will be isolated using chromatographic techniques and identified by spectroscopic techniques. It is hoped that this study contribute both knowledge of Brazilian biodiversity, such as the discovery of new active compounds of biotechnological interest. (AU)