Soluble material secreted fromPenicillium chrysogenumisolate exhibits antifungal activity againstCryphonectria parasitica- the causative agent of the American Chestnut Blight.
The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once the dominant canopy tree along the eastern region of the United States.Cryphonectria parasitica, the causative agent of chestnut blight, was introduced from Asia in the early 1900's, and obliterated the chestnut population within 50 years. We sought to identify environmental microbes capable of producing factors that were fungicidal or inhibited growth ofC. parasiticain the hopes developing a biological control of chestnut blight. We isolated a filamentous fungus that significantly inhibited the growth ofC. parasiticaupon co-cultivation. Extracellular fractions of this fungal isolate preventedC. parasiticagrowth, indicating that a potential fungicide was produced by the novel isolate. Sequence analysis of 18S rRNA identified this inhibitory fungus asPenicillium chrysogenum.Furthermore, these extracellular fractions were tested as treatments for blightin vivousing chestnut saplings. Scarred saplings that were treated with theP. chrysogenumextracellular fractions healed subjectively better than those without treatment when inoculated withC. parasitica. These data suggest that material secreted byP. chrysogenumcould be used as a treatment for the American chestnut blight. This work may assist the reclamation of the American chestnut in association with breeding programs and blight attenuation. Specifically, treatment of small groves under the right conditions may allow them to remain blight free. Future work will explore the mechanism of action and specific target of the extracellular fraction.
Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV USA.
Aleksandr
A
Florjanczyk
Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV USA.
Rebecca
R
Barnes
Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV USA.
Adam
A
Kenney
Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV USA.
Joseph
J
Horzempa
American Chestnut; Biological Control; Chestnut Blight; Inhibition; Penicillium