Chemical and Biological studies of two Solanum family extracts presenting Moniliophthora perniciosa(Crinipellis perniciosa)anti-fungi activity (cocoa witches´broom disease)

• Grant number: 11/11272-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Simone Possedente de Lira
• Grantee: Jorge Henrique Custodio
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil once was ahead of cocoa exportation therefore nowadays occupies the sixth position in the global market, with 160 thousand ton/year and 70 % of the cocoa farmland is located at south Bahia. The major fact to the production decreasing is due to the most aggressive cocoa disease, witches broom disease, caused by Moniliophthora perniciosa fungi, bringing severe damages to the plant and production.Early studies done by our research group proved the efficiency of leaf and fruit extracts isolated from Solanum lycopersicum with promising anti-fungi in vitro activity against M. perniciosa. At one hand, research of pharmacological use are intensively done, by other hand, agronomic interest on these kind of research are negligence by the scientific communityIn this project we propose to explore the biological and chemical potential from secondary metabolites produced by Solanum family plants with anti-fungi activity to Moniliophthora perniciosa. After preliminary tests, two plants from Solanum genera will be selected, from each one leaves will be extracted using organic solvent generating crude extracts which will be analyzed. Crude extracts will be tested as its ability to inhibit M. perniciosa growth and pathogenicity . In Brazil, despite there are still few research groups working on secondary metabolites isolation of agronomic interest this work can be a new option for natural bio fungicides.