The production of rhodotorulic acid, a siderophore synthesized by Rhodotorula strains, was improved with the objective of achieving the biocontrol of phytopathogenic moulds. Rhodotorulic acid increased up to 60% in the presence of urea as a nitrogen source, pH near to 8 and a C:N ratio of 8:1. The siderophore-containing spent medium showed in vitro antifungal activity against important plant pathogens including Botrytis cinerea, which causes grey mould on a wide variety of host plants including numerous commercial crops. The antifungal activity was related to siderophore concentration.
The present work aimed to characterize and to improve the production of the siderophore produced by Kosakonia radicincitans and apply it to control of phytopathogenic fungi. The siderophore, characterized by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass detection (LC-MS/MS), was identified as enterochelin. The improvement of its production was carried out using different conditions. The higher production of enterochelin (45 mg g -1 dry weight biomass) was reached in a medium with lactose as the carbon source, 0.82 mol.L -1 of iron, at 28°C and 200 rpm.The siderophore at 60 mg L -1 of concentration inhibited the conidia germination and the mycelial growth of Penicillium expansum, Botrytis cinerea, Rhizopus sp., Alternaria sp. and Cladosporium cladosporoides. Biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum were performed in apple fruit using Kosakonia radicincitans and enterochelin, alone or in a mixture. The mixture was the more effective. In this case, the reduction of decay provoked for B.cinerea reached 52%.
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