Unveiling Clonostachys rosea bioactives: Investigating antifungal potential against Fusarium oxysporum through in vitro and in silico studies

Abstract

Fusarium spp. pose significant threats to agriculture by causing wilt in various crops like ridge gourd. This study identifies Fusarium isolates from wilted ridge gourd plants and evaluates Clonostachys rosea's biocontrol potential. Twelve isolates were characterized using molecular and morphological analyses, revealing nine Fusarium oxysporum, two Fusarium brachygibbosum, and one Fusarium equiseti. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that F. oxysporum isolates were highly virulent, while other two species were weakly pathogenic. Antagonistic assays demonstrated that C. rosea significantly inhibited the growth of Fusarium spp. up to 71.59%. Microscopic analysis revealed its mycoparasitic activity, involving hyphal encirclement and degradation of Fusarium hyphae. Metabolite profiling through GC-MS characterized 44 bioactive compounds, including fatty acids, alcohols, amines, thiols, triazoles, and hydrazines. Molecular docking analysis revealed high binding affinities of these metabolites with key fungal proteins, suggesting potential mechanisms of antifungal action. C. rosea demonstrates potential as a biocontrol agent, with its antifungal metabolites providing new insights and strategies for managing Fusarium wilt in ridge gourd.