Planta Med 2014; 80 - PC4
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382386

Secondary metabolite production by fungal endophytes of Canadian fruit crops

MW Sumarah 1, 3, A Ibrahim 2, D Sørensen 2, 3, JD Miller 3
  • 1Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, Canada N5V 4T3
  • 2Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street W., Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4M1
  • 3Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1S 5B6

The potential role of fungal endophytes in the protection of grasses and conifers against insect and fungal diseases has been demonstrated. In this study, we examine the secondary metabolites isolated from fungal endophytes of grape, raspberry, blueberry and cranberry plants collected in Ontario and Nova Scotia. The plants and berries of these high-value crops are highly susceptible to a variety of fungal and bacterial diseases as well as insect pests. 250 fungal endophyte isolates were grown and a number of extracts exhibited antifungal and antibacterial activity. Strains isolated from grape and raspberry leaves have led to the characterization of a number of new compounds. Fifteen Xylaria sp. fungal endophytes isolated from lowbush blueberry plants were shown to produce griseofulvin. This is of interest because the same Xylaria sp. was isolated as an endophyte from needles of pine trees in the surrounding forest demonstrating a pine-blueberry forest ecotype. Additionally, known antibacterial and antifungal compounds were isolated from blueberry, grape and cranberry endophytes. The bioactivity of the compounds isolated to date suggests that they play a role in defence against diseases and pests and could potentially be used in agriculture for crop protection.