Hongos detectados en la entomofauna asociada a Espeletia pycnophylla / Fungi detected in insects associated to Espeletia pycnophylla

RESUMEN Algunas especies del género Espeletia sp. (Asteraceae) son afectados por hongos fitopatógenos e insectos en páramos de los Andes del Norte, amenazando su permanencia y la prestación de servicios que se les atribuye, como la regulación del ciclo hídrico. La escaza información sobre la afectación en el páramo de Paja Blanca (Nariño, Colombia), dificulta la comprensión de la dinámica del fenómeno y la formulación de estrategias de manejo. El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar cambios en la composición de las comunidades de insectos asociados a E. pycnophylla durante el declive de las poblaciones de frailejones y evaluar si reflejan modificaciones en los hongos, asociados a dichos insectos. Para ello, se colectaron insectos en plantas de E. pycnophylla sanas y afectadas, a los que se aplicó índices ecológicos, para identificar posibles modificaciones en la diversidad y la composición; además, se aislaron e identificaron morfológica y molecularmente hongos, a partir de estructuras corporales de los insectos. Como resultado, se identificó una diversidad de insectos considerable y que no hay modificación en su composición de insectos entre los dos estados de frailejón analizados. Se logró aislar hongos, como Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis sp., Epicoccum nigrum, Cladosporium sp., a partir de estructuras de los géneros de insectos Neomyopites sp., Diabrotica sp., Bradysia sp. y Dyscolus sp. Este estudio aporta información sobre la entomofauna presente en E. pycnopylla del páramo de Paja Blanca y hongos asociados a estructuras corporales, como el canal alimentario y aparato bucal de los insectos.

ABSTRACT Some species of the genus Espeletia sp. (Asteraceae) are affected by phytopathogenic fungi and insects in the paramos of the Northern Andes, threatening their permanence and the provision of services attributed to them such as the regulation of the water cycle. The scarce information about the impact on the Paja Blanca páramo (Nariño, Colombia) makes it difficult to understand the dynamics of the phenomenon and the formulation of management strategies. The goal of this research was to identify changes in the composition of the insect communities associated to E. pycnophylla during the decline of the frailejon populations and to evaluate if these reflect modifications in the fungi associated with those insects. For this, insects were collected in healthy and affected E. pycnophylla plants to which ecological indices were applied to identify possible changes in diversity and composition, Also fungi were isolated and identified morphologically and molecularly from body structures of insects. As result, a considerable diversity of insects was identified and no modification in their composition of insects between the two states of frailejón were found. It was possible to isolate fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis sp., Epicoccum nigrum, Cladosporium sp. from structures of the insect genera Neomyopites sp., Diabrotica sp., Bradysia sp. and Dyscolus sp. This study provides information about the entomofauna present in E. pycnopylla from the Paja Blanca páramo and fungi associated with body structures such as the alimentary canal and the oral system of insects.

Evaluation of Argentinean medicinal plants and isolation of their bioactive compounds as an alternative for the control of postharvest fruits phytopathogenic fungi

Abstract One of the main problems that fruit health goes through in recent years is the difficult eradication of their fungal pathogens after harvesting. This concern to the whole world because it represents huge losses of production, fruit export restrictions and consumers distrust. One of the alternatives to solve this problem could be the exploration of plants and their active compounds, which have proven to be antifungal against human pathogens, but now applied to the treatment of fruits health. In this work, eighteen plant species that grow in Argentina were evaluated against four phytopathogenic fungi that greatly affect the postharvest stage of fruits commercially important to our country. All the species studied were at least active against one fungus of the panel, while three of them displayed high antifungal properties inhibiting the growth of selected pathogens. In addition, bio-guided fractionation of these most active extracts, led to the isolation of some compounds which proved to be responsible for their antifungal activity. Although they are known compounds and were previously isolated from other natural sources, this is the first time that they are evaluated for their phytopathogenic activities against this panel of fungi.

Culture media to detect and criteria to evaluate and report the activity of extracellular enzymes produced by phytopathogenic fungi / Meios de cultura para detectar e critérios para avaliar e divulgar atividade de enzimas extracelulares produzidas por fungos fitopatogênicos

Extracellular enzymes are involved in the fungal pathogenesis in plants. Currently, culture media, data analyses, and data report related to extracellular enzymes produced in vitro conditions are different and therefore, lack standardization. This work aimed to compare the culture media cited on the literature (normal) with the potato-dextrose-agar (PDA) medium combined with a specific compound to produce extracellular enzymes through three soilborne phytopathogenic fungi (F. solani f. sp. passiflorae, S. rolfsii, and R. solani AG-4 HGI), as well as to analyze and report enzyme data based on five different criteria. The assay was randomized, with three factors (culture media, isolates, and enzymes) and six repetitions. The studied enzymes were amylase (AM), carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), lipase (LP), laccase (LC), catalase (CT), and gelatinase (GT). The normal media detected more enzymes and was more precise compared to the PDA medium plus specific compound. The criteria that calculated the area of the circular crown of AM, CMCase, LP, and LC and measured the intensity (0 = absence, up to 4 = intense) of CT and GT adopting note scale were the best to evaluate and report the results of the enzymes. We suggest the normal media culture to study enzyme production, as well as the criteria mentioned to assess and report the data related to enzyme activities.(AU)

As enzimas extracelulares estão envolvidas na patogênese de fungos em plantas. Atualmente, não há uma padronização de meios de cultura, formas de analisar e divulgar os dados de enzimas extracelulares produzidas em condições in vitro. Assim, o presente trabalho objetivou comparar os meios de cultura específicos relatados na literatura (normal) com o meio de batata-dextrose-ágar mais adição do substrato específico para produção de enzimas extracelulares por três diferentes fungos fitopatogênicos habitantes de solo (Fusarium solani f. sp. passiflorae, Sclerotium rolfsii e Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 HGI), bem como avaliar os dados das enzimas por cinco critérios diferentes. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema de três fatores (meios, isolados e enzimas), com seis repetições. As enzimas investigadas foram amilase, carboximetilcelulase, lipase, lacase, catalase e gelatinase. Os meios normais detectaram mais enzimas, e essa detecção foi mais precisa em comparação com os meios de batata-dextrose-ágar mais o substrato específico. Os critérios que calcularam a área da coroa circular para as enzimas amilase, carboximetilcelulase, lipase e lacase e adotaram a escala de notas para medir a intensidade (0=ausência até 4=intensa) de catalase e gelatinase foram os melhores para avaliar e divulgar os resultados das enzimas. Assim, sugere-se padronizar os meios normais para estudos de produção de enzimas, bem como os critérios citados para avaliar e divulgar os dados das atividades das referidas enzimas.(AU)

Antifungal Activity of Selected Chemical Agents against Phytopathogenic Fungi Spores

Postharvest deterioration has been a major problem associated with yam storage for both famers and traders and it is caused mostly by micro-organisms especially fungi. During the storage of yam, many organisms such as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum and Rhizopus stolonifer are often reported to cause rotting of the stored yams. The aim of this research is to find out the antifungal effect of some commonly used anti-dermatophytic agents, (Fluconazole, Terbinafine Hcl, Ketoconazole, Sodium propionate and Griseofulvin) on the above named fungi spores. This was carried out using zone of inhibition, MICs, MFCs, FICs and FFCs to measure the antifungal activities of the test antifungal agents against the isolated phytopathogenic fungi spores. These agents were found to have fungitoxic effects on the test organisms in the order of: Terbinafine Hcl > Fluconazole > Ketoconazole > Sodium propionate > Griseofulvin. This work indicated that the test antifungal agents were able to inhibit the fungi spores that are widely reported to be associated with yams rot when stored. The observation in this study showed that a good and efficient fungicide against the test organisms that are known to cause yam rot during storage can be effectively arrested with combination of these fungicides.

Evaluación de la actividad antifúngica del extracto de Usnea laevis en hongos fitopatógenos / Evaluation of the antifungal activity of the lichenic extract of Usnea laevis in phytopathogenic fungi

Los líquenes son producto de una asociación simbiótica entre un hongo y alga y/o cianobacteria; esta simbiosis produce una serie de metabolitos secundarios o sustancias liquénicas únicas, las mismas que son aisladas a partir de sus extractos y que han presentado una marcada actividad antibiótica y antifúngica. Considerando que en el Ecuador no se tienen antecedentes acerca de este tipo de estudios, el objetivo planteado fue el evaluar la actividad antifúngica del extracto liquénico de Usnea laevis frente a hongos fitopatógenos. En el presente estudio las sustancias liquénicas almacenadas en el talo de Usnea laevis fueron extraídas con metanol y etanol. La actividad antifúngica in vitro de estos extractos fue probado frente a géneros de hongos fitopatógenos previamente aislados (Aspergillus, Penicillium y Rhizopus stolonifer); añadiéndolo al medio de cultivo Agar Papa Dextrosa (PDA) a una concentración de 0,5%; determinándose el porcentaje de inhibición. Los datos fueron analizados estadísticamente y se realizó la clasificación del extracto en base a su porcentaje de inhibición según la OILB. El extracto metanólico y etanólico de Usnea laevis mostró una mayor efectividad frente a Rhizopus stolonifer, inhibiendo más del 50% de su crecimiento, a diferencia de Penicillium y Aspergillus cuyo porcentaje de inhibición fue mucho menor y mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas. El extracto liquénico fue moderadamente tóxico para Rhizopus stolonifer, ligeramente tóxico para Aspergillus sp 1 y Penicillium sp e inocuo para Aspergillus sp 2.

A lichen is an organism product of a symbiotic association between a fungus and algae and / or cyanobacteria; this symbiosis produces many secondary metabolites or unique lichen substances, which are isolated from their extracts and show a marked antibiotic and antifungal activity. Considering there is no background on this type of studies in Ecuador, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal in vitro activity of Usnea laevis extract on phytopathogenic fungi. The lichenic substances stored in the thallus of Usnea laevis were extracted with methanol and ethanol. The in vitro antifungal activity of these extracts was tested against phytopathogenic fungal genera previously isolated (Aspergillus, Penicillium and Rhizopus stolonifer) . They were adding to Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) culture medium at a concentration of 0.5%, and the inhibition percentage was determined. Data were statistically analyzed and the extract was classified based on its inhibition percentage according to the OILB. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts of Usnea laevis showed greater effectiveness against Rhizopus stolonifer, inhibiting more than 50% of its growth, unlike Penicillium and Aspergillus, whose inhibition percentage was lower and showed significant differences. The liquid extract was also moderately toxic to Rhizopus stolonifer, slightly toxic to Aspergillus sp 1 and Penicillium sp and harmless to Aspergillus sp 2.

Inhibitory Effect of Rhizobia Isolated from Several Leguminous against Phytopathogenic Fungi

Aims: This study was carried out to evaluate the antagonistic effect of ten isolated characterized Rhizobium sp. and three referenced strains against aggressive phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Alternaria spp., Humicola spp. and Cladosporium spp. isolated from infected and wilted plants in vitro and in vivo. Study Design:  First, we have ten strains of rhizobia isolated from leguminous and characterized, after that,  some strains of fungi were isolated from infected  and wilt plants,  such as Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium,  Alternaria, Humicola and Cladosporium. Finally, The investigation of the potential of the isolated rhizobia and three referenced strains was evaluated in dual culture, in pots experiments and on seeds. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, between April and November 2016. Methodology: Rhizobia isolates were identified upon their phenotypic traits as: the morphology of the colony, of the physiological characters (growth temperature, salt tolerance, resistance to antibiotics, metabolism of carbon source, generation time…) and also the production of extracellular metabolites as siderophores and proteases. Fungal isolates were identified by their macroscopic and microscopic characters. The antagonistic effect of rhizobia against phytopathogenic fungi was examined in vitro by: confrontation in Petri dishes and inoculation of seeds; and in vivo by inoculation of plants. Results: The isolated rhizobia were resistant to penicillin and amoxicillin with generation time ranged from 1.9 to 6.4 h, they were able to grow at temperatures from 4°C to 37°C, tolerate salt concentration (0.5 –2%) and produce siderophores and proteases. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the rhizobia isolates and the referenced strains against the fungi isolates in vitro and in vivo. In dual culture, all rhizobia isolates inhibited the mycelial growth of the pathogens. The best disease control was obtained with isolate F3 from faba bean which inhibited the fungal growth with more than 70%. The highest inhibition growth was obtained against Alternaria spp.2, Penicillium spp.2, Cladosporium spp. and Humicola spp. with an inhibition rate ranging from 90 to 96%. In pot experiments, Rhizobia isolates from chickpea, lentil and faba bean reduced significantly all disease incidence  with more than 75%; where the best fight was observed in lentil plants, while in faba bean no wilted plants were observed. Seeds inoculated with rhizobia and fungi in Petri dishes showed that isolates from faba bean and lentil were the most effective in reducing fungi disease incidence. Conclusion: Rhizobia have a high potentiality to inhibit the growth of tested pathogens and could be fielded within an integrated disease management package.

Bases bioquímicas de la tolerancia al estrés osmótico en hongos fitopatógenos: el caso de Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid / Biochemical basis of tolerance to osmotic stress in phytopathogenic fungus: The case of Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid

El hongo Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid., agente causal de la enfermedad denominada «pudrición carbonosa¼, provoca pérdidas significativas en la producción de cultivos como maíz, sorgo, soya y frijol en México. Este hongo, parásito facultativo, muestra amplia capacidad de adaptación a ambientes estresantes, donde existen altas temperaturas y deficiencia hídrica, condiciones frecuentes en gran parte de la agricultura de dicho país. En este trabajo se describen algunos aspectos básicos de la etiología y la epidemiología de M. phaseolina. Asimismo, se revisa la importancia que guardan las respuestas de este hongo a ambientes estresantes, particularmente la deficiencia hídrica, de acuerdo con caracteres morfológicos y del crecimiento, así como fisiológicos, bioquímicos y de patogenicidad. Finalmente, se presentan algunas perspectivas de estudio del género, que enfatizan la necesidad de mejorar su conocimiento, con base en la aplicación de herramientas tradicionales y de biotecnología, y de dilucidar mecanismos de tolerancia al estrés ambiental, extrapolables a otros microorganismos útiles al hombre.

Fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. is the causative agent of charcoal rot disease which causes significant yield losses in major crops such as maize, sorghum, soybean and common beans in Mexico. This fungus is a facultative parasite which shows broad ability to adapt itself to stressed environments where water deficits and/or high temperature stresses commonly occur. These environmental conditions are common for most cultivable lands throughout Mexico. Here we describe some basic facts related to the etiology and epidemiology of the fungus as well as to the importance of responses to stressed environments, particularly to water deficits, based on morphology and growth traits, as well as on physiology, biochemistry and pathogenicity of fungus M. phaseolina. To conclude, we show some perspectives related to future research into the genus, which emphasize the increasing need to improve the knowledge based on the application of both traditional and biotechnological tools in order to elucidate the mechanisms of resistance to environmental stress which can be extrapolated to other useful organisms to man.

Antifungal activity of essential oil from the fruits of Ammodaucus leucotrichus Coss. & Dur., in liquid and vapour phase against postharvest phytopathogenic fungi in apples.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of essential oil (EO) from Ammodaucus leucotrichus fruits against three phytopathogenic fungi causing the deterioration for apples, including Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum and Rhizopus stolonifer by using the poisoned food (PF) and the volatile activity (VA) methods. The antifungal test results indicated that the EO displayed significant potential of antifungal activity against the tested phytopathogenic fungi (p<0.05). In PF technique, the MICs (minimums inhibitory concentrations) were 0.5 μL/mL for B. cinerea and P. expansum and 1 μL/mL for R. stolonifer. Whereas, in VA assay, the complete inhibition of the mycelial growth of B. cinerea and P. expansum was observed at MIC= 0.125 μL/mL air, and that of R. stolonifer was observed at MIC = 0.25 μL/mL air. The overall results suggest that A. leucotrichus essential oil have a potential as antifungal preservatives for the control of postharvest diseases of apple.

Hongos asociados al manchado del grano en la variedad de arroz INCA LP-5 (Oryza sativa L.) en Cuba / Fungi associated to grain spotting in the INCA LP-5 (Oryza sativa L.) variety of rice in Cuba

Se aislaron e identificaron los hongos presentes en granos de arroz manchados, de la variedad INCA LP-5, cosechados durante las épocas lluviosas de los años 2003 y 2005, en áreas de la Estación Experimental del Arroz “Los Palacios”, Pinar del Río, perteneciente al Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agrícolas (INCA). Se determinó la incidencia y se realizaron las pruebas de patogenicidad mediante los postulados de Koch. Se identificaron 35 especies, correspondientes a 19 géneros de hongos asociados a granos manchados de la variedad INCA LP-5, y entre ellas se señalaron, como nuevos registros asociados al manchado del grano de arroz para Cuba a: Bipolaris maydis, Fusarium merismoides, F. solani, F. subglutinans, Penicillium itallicum, Phoma medicaginis var. pinodella y Syncephalastrum racemosum. Los hongos de mayor incidencia fueron Bipolaris oryzae, Sarocladium oryzae y especies de los géneros Alternaria, Fusarium, Curvularia y Phoma. Se confirmó que los hongos F. subglutinans, B. oryzae, A. padwickii, Alternaria sp., F. verticillioides, C. lunata, C. lunata var. aeria, C. pallescens, C. senegalensis, Curvularia sp., Phoma sp. y S. oryzae, son agentes causales del manchado del grano de arroz.

Isolation and identification of the fungi present in spotted rice grains of the INC LP-5 variety, harvested during the rainy seasons of the years 2003 and 2005, was done at sites of the Experimental Rice Station “Los Palacios”, Pinar del Río, belonging to the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agrícolas (INCA). Incidence was determined, and pathogenicity tests were carried out according to Koch’s postulates. Thirty-five species corresponding to 19 fungi genus associated to spotted grains of the INCA-LP-5 variety were identified, and among them, the following strains were indicated as new registrations associated to spotting of rice grains in Cuba: Bipolaris maydis, Fusarium merismoides, F. solani, F. subglutinans, Penicillium itallicum, Phoma medicaginis var. pinodella and Syncephalastrum racemosum. The fungi with the highest incidence were Bipolaris oryzae, Sarocladium oryzae and species of the genus Alternaria, Fusarium, Curvularia and Phoma. It was confirmed that the fungi F. subglutinans, B. oryzae, A. padwickii, Alternaria sp., F verticilloides, C. lunata, C.lunata var. aeria, C. pallescens, C. senegalensis, Curvularia sp., and S. oryzae, are causative agents of the spotting of rice grains.

A promising strain of Streptomyces sp. with agricultural traits for growth promotion and disease management.

A bacterial strain, Streptomyces sp. CIMAP- A1 was isolated from Geranium rhizosphere and identified by morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular characters (16S rDNA gene sequence). Phylogenetically, it was found most closely related to S. vinacendrappus, strain NRRL-2363 with 99% sequence similarity. The strain had potential antagonistic activity (in vitro) against wide range of phytopathogenic fungi like Stemphylium sp., Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Colletotrichum spp., Curvularia spp., Corynespora cassicola and Thielavia basicola. The extracellular secondary metabolites produced by the strain in the culture filtrates significantly inhibited the spore germination, growth of germ tube of the germinated spores and radial growth of Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum acutatum, Curvularia andropogonis and Fusarium moniliforme. The extraction of culture filtrate with solvents and purification by following VLC and PTLC methods always yielded a 10th fraction antifungal compound showing activity against wide range of phytopathogenic fungi. The strain was able to produce siderophores and indole-3-acetic acid. The strain was found to enhance the growth and biomass production of Geranium. It increased 11.3% fresh shoot biomass of Geranium and 21.7% essential oil yield.

Growth rate inhibition of phytopathogenic fungi by characterized chitosans

The inhibitory effects of fifteen chitosans with different degrees of polymerization (DP) and different degrees of acetylation (F A) on the growth rates (GR) of four phytopathogenic fungi (Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, and Rhizopus stolonifer) were examined using a 96-well microtiter plate and a microplate reader. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the chitosans ranged from 100 µg × mL-1 to 1,000 µg × mL-1 depending on the fungus tested and the DP and F A of the chitosan. The antifungal activity of the chitosans increased with decreasing F A. Chitosans with low F A and high DP showed the highest inhibitory activity against all four fungi. P. expansum and B. cinerea were relatively less susceptible while A. alternata and R. stolonifer were relatively more sensitive to the chitosan polymers. Scanning electron microscopy of fungi grown on culture media amended with chitosan revealed morphological changes.

The proximate, mineral and phytochemical analysis of the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L., Melanthera scandens A. and Leea guineensis L. and their medicinal value.

The chemical composition of Ocimum gratissimum, Melanthera scanden and Leea guineensis were investigated. The proximate analysis in % showed that Melanthera scanden had the highest amount of ash content of 7.73 and moisture content 6.54 while Ocimum gratissimum had the lowest amount of ash content 5.11 and moisture content 5.04. Ocimum gratissimum had the highest amount of fat 7.75 and carbohydrate 56.16 while Melanthera scanden had the least amount of fat 6.87 and carbohydrate 50.0. Leea guineensis had the highest amount of crude protein 19.3 while Melanthera scanden had the highest amount of crude fibre 12.66. The mineral analysis in mg/100g indicated that the leaves contained calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. The Phytochemical analysis of the plants showed that the three medicinal plants contained alkaloid, tannins, saponins, steroid, phlobatannin/ terpenoid, flavonoid cardiac glycoside, while phlobatanin was not found in Melanthera scanden. The medicinal plants also contained antinutrient phytin phosphorus, oxalate, phytic acid and polyphenol.

Antibiosis and dark-pigments secretion by the phytopathogenic and environmental fungal species after interaction in vitro with a Bacillus subtilis isolate

In this work, different reactions in vitro between an environmental bacterial isolate and fungal species were related. The Gram-positive bacteria had terminal and subterminal endospores, presented metabolic characteristics of mesophilic and acidophilic growth, halotolerance, positive to nitrate reduction and enzyme production, as caseinase and catalase. The analysis of partial sequences containing 400 to 700 bases of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene showed identity with the genus Bacillus. However, its identity as B. subtilis was confirmed after analyses of the rpoB, gyrA, and 16S rRNA near-full-length sequences. Strong inhibitory activity of environmental microorganisms, such as Penicillium sp, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, and phytopathogens, such as Colletotrichum sp, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium solani and F. oxysporum f.sp vasinfectum, was shown on co-cultures with B. subtilis strain, particularly on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) and DNase media. Red and red-ochre color pigments, probably phaeomelanins, were secreted by A. alternata and A. niger respectively after seven days of co-culture.

Na presente investigação, nosso objetivo principal foi relatar diferentes interações in vitro de um isolado bacteriano ambiental com espécies fúngicas. Através da identificação clássica, nós verificamos que o bacilo ambiental apresentava endósporos terminais e subterminais, características metabólicas de mesofilia, acidofilia, halotolerância, redução de nitrato e produção de enzimas, como caseinase e catalase. Análise de seqüências parciais do gene 16S RNAr contendo de 400 a 700 bases revelou identidade com gênero Bacillus. No entanto, a espécie Bacillus subtilis foi confirmada somente depois da análise de seqüências dos genes rpoB, gyrA, and 16S RNAr. Intensa atividade inibitória aos fungos ambientais, como Penicillium sp, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, e fitopatogênicos, como Colletotrichum sp, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium solani e F. oxysporum f.sp vasinfectum, foi observada em coculturas com a cepa bacteriana (B. subtilis), particularmente em ágar Sabouraud dextrose e ágar DNase. Pigmentos de cor avermelhada e vermelho-amarronzado, provavelmente feomelaninas, foram secretados respectivamente por colônias de A. alternata e A. niger depois de sete dias de co-cultivo.

Actividad antifúngica de Burkholderia cepacia aislada de maíz amarillo (Zea mays L.) bajo diferentes condiciones de cultivo / Antifungal activity of Burkholderia cepacia isolated from yellow corn (Zea mays L.) under different culture conditions

Se evaluó la actividad antifúngica in vitro de 4 cepas de Burkholderia cepacia aisladas de rizósfera de maíz amarillo (Zea mays L.) de diferentes plantaciones del municipio Montes, estado Sucre, Venezuela, contra hongos fitopatógenos. Se comparó la actividad antagónica con una cepa control de origen ambiental CVCM 626 (ATCC 25416) y un aislado clínico CVCM 1282, empleando el método directo de enfrentamientos duales y un método indirecto de difusión con discos de agar. Las pruebas se realizaron por triplicado, se midió el diámetro de los halos de inhibición formados y se aplicó un análisis de varianza de una vía, así como la prueba Tukey. Las cuatro cepas aisladas (SR2, ER3, LG12 y N10) mostraron una actividad antifúngica similar sobre Trichoderma viride y ocasionaron una inhibición total o parcial de la esporulación en hongos como Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium solani, Aspergillus niger y Penicillium expansum. Los mayores halos de inhibición fueron producidos por la cepa control CVCM 626, observándose un promedio de 9,9 mm. No se evidenció ningún nivel de antagonismo utilizando el aislado clínico CVCM 1282. B. cepacia mostró un aumento de la actividad antagónica en presencia de algunas fuentes de carbono como xilosa, maltosa, manosa y fructosa y de aminoácidos como cistina, valina y leucina, en un rango de pH ácido (4 a 5,5), y a una temperatura de 35 ºC.

The antifungal activity against phytophatogenic fungi of four Burkholderia cepacia strains isolated from yellow corn (Zea mays L.) from different plantations at the Montes Municipality, Sucre State, Venezuela, was evaluated in vitro. The antagonist activity was compared by using a control strain of environmental origin CVCM 626 (ATCC 25416) and one clinical isolate CVM 1282, with the direct dual confrontation method, and an indirect method with agar-diffusion disks. The tests were done in triplicate, measuring the inhibition halos that occurred, and applying a one way variance analysis, as well the Tukey test. The four isolated strains (SR2, ER3, LG12 and N10) showed similar antifungal activity over Trichoderma viride and produced a total or partial inhibition of sporulation of fungi such as Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium solani, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium expansum. The largest inhibition halos were produced by the control strain CVCM 626, with a 9,9 mm average. There was no evidence of any antagonism level using the clinical isolate CVCM 1282. Burkholderia cepacia showed an increase of antagonist activity in presence of some carbon sources such as xilose, maltose, mannose, and fructose and of amino-acids such as cystine, valine and leucine, in an acid pH range (4 to 5.5), and a 35ºC temperature.