The Chemistry of Fungal Antagonism and Defense

University Of Iowa, Iowa City IA

Investigators

Abstract

The focus of this research is the study of mycoparasitic/fungicolous fungi that colonize the stromata and polypores of other fungi. Colonists obtained from the southern, subtropical latitudes of southern Georgia and northern Florida will increase the biodiversity found in samples already collected from Illinois. Activity of isolates from the colonists against Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium verticillioides and the agriculturally important insect Spodoptera frugiperda will be tested. The results of the project will help to determine whether an ecological rationale can be useful as a guide to the discovery of new and potentially bioactive natural products. With this renewal award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research of Dr. James B. Gloer of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Iowa. Dr. Gloer, in collaboration with Drs. Donald T. Wicklow and Patrick F. Dowd of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will focus his work on investigating the the fungal invasion of long-lived or "persistent" stromata of other fungi. Since the invasion may involve antibiosis, the fungal colonists are a potential source of anti fungal agents. The work is an excellent training ground for graduate students and the work could have impact on the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.