The genus Fusarium comprises several plant pathogenic species, some of which are etiological agents of vascular wilt in agave plants, inducing systemic necrosis across the roots, caudex (cone), and foliar tissues. Such disease compromises host vigor and biomass productivity, ultimately reducing the organoleptic quality of fermented and distilled derivatives, including mezcal, tequila, and other distillates. Thus, as part of our ongoing bioprospecting efforts in unexplored areas of Mexico, the chemical study of the organic extract from a solid-state fermentation culture of the manglicolous endophyte fungus Talaromyces islandicus M31, isolated in the Punta Sur Ecological Park in Cozumel Island Biosphere Reserve, Mexico, led to the separation of eight anthraquinone derivatives active against the agave pathogens Fusarium incarnatum (CRT-153 and CRT-197), Fusarium proliferatum (CRT-142), and Fusarium oxysporum (CRT-098 and CRT-214). Among the molecules tested, the bisdihydroanthraquinone (–)-luteoskyrin (6) exhibited the strongest growth-inhibitory activity, which was also measured over a two-month span. Through macromolecule leakage assay and scanning electron microscopy, we found that (–)-luteoskyrin (6) disrupted membrane integrity in F. incarnatum. Furthermore, a simple formulation consisting of inactivated T. islandicus M31 mycelium was tested in vivo to control Fusarium infection in agave. The results suggest that (–)-luteoskyrin (6) acts synergistically with other components, resulting in remarkable anti-Fusarium activity and demonstrating its efficacy and advantages for pest management.
Patiño et al. (2026) studied this question.