Preliminary Study on the Activity of Phycobiliproteins against Botrytis cinerea.

Hillary Righini,Ornella Francioso,Antera Martel Quintana,Roberta Roberti,Michele Di Foggia

doi:10.3390/md18120600

Hillary Righini, Ornella Francioso + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/md18120600

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Abstract

Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are proteins of cyanobacteria and some algae such as rhodophytes. They have antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activity at the human level, but there is a lack of knowledge on their antifungal activity against plant pathogens. We studied the activity of PBPs extracted from Arthrospira platensis and Hydropuntia cornea against Botrytis cinerea, one of the most important worldwide plant-pathogenic fungi. PBPs were characterized by using FT-IR and FT-Raman in order to investigate their structures. Their spectra differed in the relative composition in the amide bands, which were particularly strong in A. platensis. PBP activity was tested on tomato fruits against gray mold disease, fungal growth, and spore germination at different concentrations (0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, and 4.8 mg/mL). Both PBPs reduced fruit gray mold disease. A linear dose–response relationship was observed for both PBPs against disease incidence and H. cornea against disease severity. Pathogen mycelial growth and spore germination were reduced significantly by both PBPs. In conclusion, PBPs have the potential for being also considered as natural compounds for the control of fungal plant pathogens in sustainable agriculture.

Highlights

Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are natural water-soluble proteins present in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of some algae, such as rhodophytes, glaucophytes, and cryptomonas [1,2,3]
The presence of a broad band from 3600 and 3400 cm−1 is due to the O–H stretching vibration and water [19]
Microscopical observations of B. cinerea spores, which were treated with PBSs, revealed that spores germinated poorly by producing short germ tubes and that no hyphal branches occurred

Summary

Introduction

Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are natural water-soluble proteins present in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of some algae, such as rhodophytes, glaucophytes, and cryptomonas [1,2,3]. They are the main component of light-harvesting complex and can be classified into four types according to their spectral properties: allophycocyanins, phycocyanins, phycoerythrins, and phycoerythrocyanins [4,5]. Phycobiliproteins are of different colors: phycocyanins are blue, allophycocyanins bluish-green, and phycoerythrins are deep red [3]. PBPs from different sources could share similar spectral properties, such as the phycocyanins from red algae and those from cyanobacteria. Phycobiliproteins have many applications in cosmetics, foods, and medical and diagnostic fields [6,7]

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