Bioactive compounds produced by Neotropical endophytic fungi applied to agriculture

Authors: BARRETO, DEBORA - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais; NOGUEIRA DE AZEVEDO, RAFAELA - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais; CARVALHO, CAMILA - Centro De Pesquisas Rene' Rachou; FERREIRA, MARIANA - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais; Cantrell, Charles; Duke, Stephen; ROSA, LUIZ - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2020
Publication Date: 4/21/2021
Citation: Barreto, D.L., Nogueira De Azevedo, R., Carvalho, C., Ferreira, M.C., Cantrell, C.L., Duke, S.O., Rosa, L.H. 2021. Bioactive compounds produced by Neotropical endophytic fungi applied to agriculture. In: Rosa L.H. editors. Neotropical Endophytic Fungi. Springer, Cham: Springer International Publishing. p. 257-295.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53506-3

Interpretive Summary: Food production to adequately supply the world population represents a great challenge for the agricultural sector. Phytopathogenic microbes and weeds are two of the biggest problems in causing high losses in agriculture. The use of pesticides is indispensable in managing these problems. However, the extensive use of these agrochemicals can cause damage to the environment and human health, and, in some cases, affecting the food chain through bioaccumulation. One promising alternative to avoid using the more toxic pesticides is to search new pesticides derived from natural products that may be less toxic to the environment and human health. Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that have been studied due to their capabilities to produce different compounds with biotechnological potential to use as future biopesticides. Endophytic fungi are considered as a rich reservoir of a wide range of bioactive compounds, including those with pesticidal activities that might be harnessed for use in agricultural pest management. In this chapter, we focus on the antimicrobial and herbicidal compounds derived from endophytic fungi isolated from Neotropical plants and their possible use in agriculture.

Technical Abstract: Food production to adequately supply the world population represents a great challenge for the agricultural sector. Phytopathogenic microbes and weeds are two of the biggest problems in causing high losses in agriculture. The use of pesticides is indispensable in managing these problems. However, the extensive use of these agrochemicals can cause damage to the environment and human health, and, in some cases, affecting the food chain through bioaccumulation. One promising alternative to avoid using the more toxic pesticides is to search new pesticides derived from natural products that may be less toxic to the environment and human health. Endophytic fungi are considered as a rich reservoir of a wide range of bioactive compounds, including those with pesticidal activities that might be harnessed for use in agricultural pest management. In this chapter, we focus on the antimicrobial and herbicidal compounds derived from endophytic fungi isolated from Neotropical plants and their possible use in agriculture.