Herbicidal and Antifungal Xanthone Derivatives from the Alga-Derived Fungus Aspergillus versicolor D5.

Herbicidal and Antifungal Xanthone Derivatives from the Alga-Derived Fungus Aspergillus versicolor D5.

J Agric Food Chem. 2020 Sep 11;:

Authors: Zhao DL, Han XB, Wang M, Zeng YT, Li Y, Ma GY, Liu J, Zheng C, Wen MX, Zhang ZF, Zhang P, Zhang CS

Abstract
Fungi have been proved as promising and prolific sources of functional secondary metabolites with potent agricultural applications. In this study, 14 xanthone derivatives (1-14), including six new ones, versicones I-N (1-4, 7, 11), and a biogenetically related derivative (15), were isolated from the alga-derived fungus Aspergillus versicolor D5. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic methods. Versicone L (4) exhibited a broad antifungal spectrum and prominent inhibitory effects on Botrytis cinerea at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 152 µM, 7-fold stronger than that of the positive control, carbendazim (MIC = 1.05×103 µM). Dihydrosterigmatocystin (13) showed strong antifungal activity towards B. cinerea at MIC = 38.3 µM, almost 30-fold stronger than that of carbendazim. Meanwhile, 13 exhibited potent herbicidal activity towards Amaranthus retroflexus L. with a MIC of 24.5 µM, approximately 4-fold stronger than that of the positive control, glyphosate (MIC = 94.7µM). Additionally, 13 also displayed remarkable activity against other weeds belonging to Amaranth sp. Analysis of the structure-herbicidal activity relationship indicated that the bifuranic ring played an important role in xanthone phytotoxicity and the presence of a double bond in the furan ring could decrease phytotoxicity. This study indicated that xanthones can be served as promising candidates for lead compounds of agrochemicals.

PMID: 32915561 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

Source: Industry