Persea indica endophyte screening for the biotechnological production of biopesticides

Trabajo presentado en la VI Reunión Química Orgánica del Mediterráneo (VI REQOMED) celebrado en Granada del 19 al 21 de junio de 2013.Plants are a reservoir of microorganisms known as endophytes. By definition, these microorganisms (mostly fungi and bacteria) live in the intercellular spaces of plant tissues. These endophytes produce bioactive substances that may be involved in the host-endophyte relationship. Therefore, these microorganisms represent a biotechnological source of bioactive metabolites. We have isolated 34 different species of fungal endophytes from the tree P. indica. This plant is one of the dominant species of the Canarian laurel forest and has been reported as a potential source of insect-control agents. Endophytic fungi have been sampled during three different seasons and from different plant parts (leaf, stem and root) to check for differential distribution as a result of their adaptation to the physiological conditions in different plant parts. Molecular identification of each of the endophyte isolates was carried out by sequencing a rDNA region extracted from the mycelium followed by sequence comparison with previously identified fungal species (GenBank). The distribution of endophyte species within the host plant and their seasonal frequency of isolation will be discussed. These endophytes were cultured in liquid medium and the resulting extracts analyzed by HPLC-MS to compare their chemical profiles with that of the host plant. Moreover, we have also studied the biological activity of these fungal extracts against plant pests (insects, nematodes and fungal pathogens) to assess their potential as biotechnological biopesticides.This work has been supported by grant CTQ2009-14629-C02-01 and P. Bolaños by a FPI predoctoral fellowship.Peer Reviewe