Potential of Mycochemicals in the Prevention and Control of Microbial Diseases

Abstract

Microorganisms are causative agents of major plants and animal diseases and are therefore of great economic importance to man. The prevention and control of microbial diseases have been a major global challenge as a result of resistance of causative agents of these diseases to commonly used antimicrobial agents. Some newly developed agents for treating microbial diseases have been found to be toxic to the end users and most of these agents are not eco- friendly. It is therefore expedient to search for alternative antimicrobial substances that will be effective and environmentally friendly. Mushrooms may be the source of these effective and environmentally friendly agents that can be used in the control and prevention of microbial diseases. They are major source of biologically active natural substances among many diverse organisms, which provide a rich variety of active metabolites. Most medicinal and edible mushrooms need antibacterial and antifungal compounds to survive in the natural environment where they grow. Hence, they are rich sources of natural antimicrobial substances. Mushrooms can be cultivated on different cellulosic wastes, and the basal substrate can be supplemented with various mineral elements and other growth factor that can enhance its effectiveness against microbial diseases. This chapter therefore highlights the potentials of mycochemicals, that is, bioactive compounds mainly of mushroom origin as an eco-friendly bio-product that may be effective against microbial diseases of plants and animals.