PLANT COMPOUNDS FOR CONTROLLING FUNGAL PATHOGENS AND INSECT PESTS ON EDIBLE MUSHROOMS

Trichoderma and Lecanicillium outbreaks are a major source of crop losses for mushroom producers and this problem has been ameliorated by fungicide applications. However, this is no longer a viable option due to increasing registration costs, development of resistance, host sensitivity to the synthetic chemicals and increasing concerns about the use of toxic chemicals. Therefore, it is imperative that we identify alternative, safe, and affordable biofungicides for mushroom crop protection. We propose utilizing an array of fungitoxic natural plant compounds 3-deoxyanthocyanidins (3-DAs) from the flavonoid pathway, produced by specialty sorghum cultivars developed at Penn State. Preliminary studies have shown that these 3-DA compounds inhibit or retard fungal proliferation as well as act as insecticides, and bactericides. In addition, 3-DAs possess antioxidant properties and are also health promoting nutraceuticals in animals and humans.Enhancement of plant bioactive compounds in crops is an opportunity to not only increase host plant resistance against pests but also to produce healthy food with high consumer acceptability. This project utilizes conventionally bred (i.e., non-GMO) sorghum breeding lines for isolation of flavonoid bioactive compounds and testing them on mushroom crop to protect it from fungal pathogens and insect pests. There are a handful of commercially available biopesticides for mushroom crop protection. The environmental, economic, and social benefits associated with the production of sustainable mushrooms are: (i) Crop resistance against diseases and insect pests, (ii) Protection of the environment and improvement of farm-gate economics by reducing (or even eliminating) the reliance on synthetic fungicides and insecticides, and (iii) Protection of human and animal health because bioactive flavonoids compounds are not toxic. Penn State has been proactive in the development of biopesticides. This proposed project will also bring us one step closer towards development of commercial plant flavonoid biopesticide for mushrooms.