ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTIFUNGAL, PHYTOTOXIC AND ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF ENDOPHYTIC AND SAPROTROPHIC PENICILLIUM FUNICULOSUM THOM STRAINS

Abstract

Fungi of the genus Penicillium provide an almost inexhaustible source of biologically active metabolites with a wide range of activities due to their physiological and biochemical features. Penicillium funiculosum Thom can adopt various lifestyles, ranging from soil saprotrophs and endophytic mutualists. P. funiculosum represent a resource for the discovery of new biologically active molecules and biocatalysts. The aim of the research was to investigate the antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and phytotoxic activities of endophytic and saprotrophic P. funiculosum strains. Methods. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of P. funiculosum strains were determined using the agar well diffusion method. Antiviral activity was tested in vitro using the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV, strain U1) model. Phytotoxic effects were assessed using corn seedlings test and the bioassay method for Chlorella. Results. Saprotrophic P. funiculosum strains demonstrated a high level of antibacterial activity against plant pathogenic bacteria, the growth inhibition zones were 15 to 45 mm. Endophytes had selective antibacterial activity against these test cultures. The absence antifungal activity of all investigated P. funiculosum strains was shown. Saprotrophic strains inhibiting the growth of corn roots and sprouts by 4–61%, while endophytic strains proved to be non-phytotoxic. Endophytic and saprotrophic strains expressed the anti-viral activity against TMV. Conclusion. The biological activities of endophytic and saprotrophic P. funiculosum strains indicate significant differences between these two ecological-trophic groups. The differences in certain physiological and biochemical characteristics of these two groups of strains and suggest that these traits may serve as markers for their differentiation.