Diaporthe endophytica and D. terebinthifolii from medicinal plants for biological control of Phyllosticta citricarpa

Publication date: Available online 9 April 2016 Source:Microbiological Research Author(s): Paulo José Camargo Dos Santos, Daiani Cristina Savi, Renata Rodrigues Gomes, Eduardo Henrique Goulin, Camila Da Costa Senkiv, Francisco André Ossamu Tanaka, Álvaro Manuel Rodrigues Almeida, Lygia Galli-Terasawa, Vanessa Kava, Chirlei Glienke The citrus industry is severely affected by citrus black spot (CBS), a disease caused by the pathogen Phyllosticta citricarpa. This disease causes loss of production, decrease in the market price of the fruit, and reduction in its export to the European Union. Currently, CBS disease is being treated in orchards with various pesticides and fungicides every year. One alternative to CBS disease control without harming the environment is the use of microorganisms for biological control. Diaporthe endophytica and D. terebinthifolii, isolated from the medicinal plants Maytenus ilicifolia and Schinus terebinthifolius have an inhibitory effect against P. citricarpa in vitro and in detached fruits. Moreover, D. endophytica and D. terebinthifolii were transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens for in vivo studies. The transformants retained the ability to control of phytopathogenic fungus P. citricarpa after transformation process. Furthermore, D. endophytica and D. terebinthifolii were able to infect and colonize citrus plants, which is confirmed by reisolation of transformants from inoculated and uninoculated leaves. Light microscop...
Source: Microbiological Research - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research