BIOACTIVITY OF Pseudomarasmius nidus-avis AND OTHER WILD FUNGI FROM MESOPHYTIC MOUNTAIN FOREST IN MEXICO IN CONTROL OF PHYTOPATHOGENS

Abstract

The mesophytic mountain forest is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in Mexico, in which there is a diverse mycobiota of which many aspects of its biology and properties are unknown. Pseudomarasmius nidus-avis is a recently discovered and described fungus that forms rhizomorphs used in the nesting habits of birds of the family Tyrannidae (Mionectes oleagineus and Tolmomyias sulfurescens). In this work, the bioactive properties of P. nidus-avis, seven basidiomycetes and two wild ascomycetes from the mesophytic mountain forest of central Veracruz state, Mexico, were evaluated in terms of their effect against phytopathogenic fungal (PF) species such as Fusarium oxysporum (ATCC-417 and CBF-185), Sclerotium cepivorum (CBF414) and Leptosphaerulina australis (CBF-433), which generate important economic losses in several crops. In vitro confrontation tests of mycelium isolated from the macrofungi against the PFs were developed, where 50 % of the wild fungi, including P. nidus-avis, showed effect on the phytopathogens. Furthermore, the crude extract obtained from the mycelium and supernatant of P. nidus-avis was evaluated against PF, showing an inhibition of 16.08 % against F. oxysporum (ATCC-417). These results show that P. nidus-avis has bioactive properties with potential for use in the control of some PF diseases of agricultural and forestry importance.