Fungal Phytotoxins with Potential Herbicidal Activity to Control Chenopodium album

Abstract

This review deals with the isolation and chemical and biological characterization of phytotoxins produced by Ascochyta caulina and Phoma chenopodiicola proposed as mycoherbicides for the biological control of Chenopodium album, a worldwide spread weed which causes serious problems to some agrarian crops, including sugar beet and maize. Studies on the structure activity relationships and on the modes of actions of toxins isolated are also described, as well as the optimization of analytical methods focused on selection of the best fungal toxin producers. The attempts to scale up production of these phytotoxins aimed to obtain sufficient amounts for their application in greenhouse and field trials are also reported.

Effect of Adjuvants on Herbicidal Activity and Selectivity of Three Phytotoxins Produced by the Fungus, Stagonospora cirsii

“…Among them, several compounds look promising for NPDH development. For instance, ascaulitoxin and its aglycone, phytotoxic non-proteinogenic amino acids produced by Ascochyta caulina [5], showed the herbicidal potential as reviewed by Cimmino et al, 2015 [6]. Phoma macrostoma produces a number of phytotoxic derivatives of tetramic acid (macrocidins) inhibiting the carotenoid biosynthesis [7][8][9].…”

Biocontrol of economically important weed species through endophytic fungi isolated from Parthenium hysterophorus (Family: Asteraceae)

“…Many fungal phytotoxins have been isolated from endophytic and plant pathogenic fungi, which are effective in the control of specific weed. Cimmino et al (2015a) reported a host-specific phytotoxic compound chenopodolans from a plant pathogenic fungi Phoma chenopodiicola for effective control of C. album. Cultural filtrates of Trichoderma spp.…”

“…Weeds are undesirable plants because they not only reduce productivity, but also affect human's health by causing allergies and skin diseases. Moreover, weeds have always been one of the most serious problems for agriculture and environment due to their competitive nature for nutrients, water, and light with agricultural crops and forest plants as well as the hazard they possess to animals (Cimmino et al 2015a). Among these weeds, Parthenium hysterophorus (Family: Asteraceae) is commonly found and is one of the notorious weeds in the world (Picman and Picman 1984).…”

Colletochlorins E and F, New Phytotoxic Tetrasubstituted Pyran-2-one and Dihydrobenzofuran, Isolated from Colletotrichum higginsianum with Potential Herbicidal Activity

“…Conversely, due to the same reasons, studies on the production of secondary metabolites have been only partially explored . Fungal bioactive metabolites are an excellent source of pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, antifungal, and herbicidal compounds. − A very wide survey was carried out on 89 strains belonging to many species of the genus Colletotrichum , by evaluating their culture filtrates aimed at finding novel metabolites with potential phytotoxic, antibiotic, antifungal, and anticancer activities. Among the many species considered, the attention was focused on a strain of Colletotrichum higginsianum.…”