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Research Project: Health-Promoting Bioactives and Biobased Pesticides from Medicinal and Herbal Crops

Location: Natural Products Utilization Research

Title: Curvularin and dehydrocurvularin as phytotoxic constituents from curvularia intermedia infecting pandanus amaryllifolius

Author
item Meepagala, Kumudini
item Johnson, Robert
item Duke, Stephen

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/26/2016
Publication Date: 2/29/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62233
Citation: Meepagala, K.M., Johnson, R.D., Duke, S.O. 2016. Curvularin and dehydrocurvularin as phytotoxic constituents from curvularia intermedia infecting pandanus amaryllifolius. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 5:12-22.

Interpretive Summary: Microbes are good sources of biologically active compounds that can be used as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. As part of our continuous efforts in search for biopesticides from natural sources, a fungus was isolated from leaves of Pandanus amaryllifolius, a plant that is used in cooking. The leaves of this plant showed infection with dark brownish yellow spots and wilting. This fungus was isolated, grown in the lab and identified as Curvularia intermedia. The ethyl acetate extract of the liquid culture medium was showed inhibition of seed germination. The compounds responsible for phytotoxicity were isolated and identified. The fungus has the potential to be used as a biopesticide in controlling weeds.

Technical Abstract: Microbes are good sources of biologically active compounds that can be used as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. As part of our continuous efforts in search for biopesticides from natural sources, a fungus was isolated from leaves of Pandanus amaryllifolius that showed severe necrosis. This fungus was cultured in potato dextrose agar and identified as Curvularia intermedia. The ethyl acetate extract of the liquid culture medium was phytotoxic. Identification and bioassay of aß-dehydrocurvularin (1) and curvularin (2) from this fungus is described. Monoacetyldehydrocurvularin (3), and diacetyldehydrocurvularin (4) were synthesized from 1. Phytoxicity rankings in a variety of bioassays were 1 > 2 > 4 > 3.