ABSTRACT
Wilt disease caused by Fusarium solani, a soil-borne plant pathogenic fungus, is a serious disease in tomato causing economic losses. In the present study, among the nine isolates of Chaetomium globosum Kunze (Chg1-Chg9), screened against F. solani No. Fs-1, Chg2 exhibited the maximum inhibition (49.2 %), followed by the isolates Chg6 (47.4%) and Chg1 (46.3%) in dual culture. Further, the crude secondary metabolites from these three isolates showed maximum reduction of the mycelial growth of Fs-1 compared to control. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the metabolites from Chg2 revealed the presence of major compounds, viz., benzothiazole, 2-(2-hydroxyethylthio) (7.51%); 9,12,15- octadecatrienoic acid, 2,3-bis[(trimethylsilyl)oxy] propyl ester (3.13%); and hexadecanoic acid, 1- (hydroxymethyl)-1,2-ethanediyl ester (2.69%). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the presence of alcohol, secondary amine, aliphatic primary amine, carboxylic acid, allene, conjugated ketone, imine/oxime, sulphate, and halo compound groups with a weak to strong range of intensity. Pure compound of benzothiazole @ 5000 ppm exhibited higher antagonistic activity of Fs-1which decreased at lower concentration. In pot culture experiment, dipping tomato seedlings cv. PKM1 in 2% ethyl acetate-fractionated biomolecules of Chg2 recorded a minimum disease incidence of 20.0%, whereas seedlings dipped in the culture filtrate of Chg2 showed a disease incidence of 26.6% compared to control (86.6%). Besides, these seedlings treated with the culture filtrate showed the highest plant height of 37.68 cm and the maximum number of leaves and flowers (39.6 and 5.48, respectively), followed by those treated with the biomolecules of Chg2 (C. globosum) and the culture filtrate of T. asperellum. The results revealed that the antifungal efficacy of C. globosum Chg2 is due to the presence of antimicrobial metabolites including benzothiazole. Exploring the use of this novel antifungal compound in the management of plant diseases is highly warranted.
ABSTRACT
A compressive description of tropical milky white mushroom (Calocybe indica P&C var. APK2) is provided in this review. This mushroom variety was first identified in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal and can be cultivated on a wide variety of substrates, at a high temperature range (30~38degrees C). However, no commercial cultivation was made until 1998. Krishnamoorthy 1997 rediscovered the fungus from Tamil Nadu, India and standardized the commercial production techniques for the first time in the world. This edible mushroom has a long shelf life (5~7 days) compared to other commercially available counterparts. A comprehensive and critical review on physiological and nutritional requirements viz., pH, temperature, carbon to nitrogen ratio, best carbon source, best nitrogen source, growth period, growth promoters for mycelia biomass production; substrate preparation; spawn inoculation; different supplementation and casing requirements to increase the yield of mushrooms has been outlined. Innovative and inexpensive methods developed to commercially cultivate milky white mushrooms on different lignocellulosic biomass is also described in this review. The composition profiles of milky white mushroom, its mineral contents and non-enzymatic antioxidants are provided in comparison with button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). Antioxidant assay results using methanol extract of milky white mushroom has been provided along with the information about the compounds that are responsible for flavor profile both in fresh and dry mushrooms. Milky white mushroom extracts are known to have anti-hyperglycemic effect and anti-lipid peroxidation effect. The advantage of growing at elevated temperature creates newer avenues to explore milky white mushroom cultivation economically around the world, especially, in humid tropical and sub-tropical zones. Because of its incomparable productivity and shelf life to any other cultivated mushrooms in the world, milky white mushroom could play an important role in satisfying the growing market demands for edible mushrooms in the near future.
