Characterization of a fungicidal substance produced by Eupenicillium brefeldianum isolated from soil for plant disease control and its significance in nature

BACKGROUND: A fungus identified as Eupenicillium brefeldianum was isolated from soil amended with vegetable tissues. RESULT: When grown in liquid medium prepared from the same vegetable tissues, E. brefeldianum produced a substance capable of preventing disease development of leaf spots of mustard cabbage caused by Alternaria brassicicola and inhibiting the germination of A. brassicicola conidia. The inhibitory substance was fungicidal and was very stable under high temperature and extreme pH. It was soluble in polar solvents but not soluble in non-polar solvents, and did not have charges on its molecule. This is the first discovery of the production of a fungicidal substance by this fungus. CONCLUSION: Results from this study suggest the possession of a strong competitive saprophytic ability by E. brefeldianum, which in turn may explain the widespread occurrence of this fungus in soils.