Planta Med 2013; 79 - PL21
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1348662

Mevalocidin: A Fungus Metabolite with Herbicide Activity and Potential for use in Organic Farming

CJ Pearce 1, L Veasey 1, M Tillotson 1, B Darveaux 1, M Lawrence 1, V Sica 2, NH Oberlies 2
  • 1Mycosynthetix, Inc., Hillsborough, NC 27275, USA
  • 2Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UNC Greensboro, NC 27412, USA

Organic farming and organic produce have seen exponential growth over the past decade. There are few options available for weed control compatible with these products other than manual labor. Scientists at Mycosynthetix, Inc, in collaboration with colleagues from Dow AgroSciences co-discovered (Gerwick et al, 2013) and subsequently licensed mevalocidin, a novel natural herbicide from two of the fungi in the Mycosynthetix fungus library. Mevalocidin is a broad spectrum systemic herbicide that is currently under development for use in organic farming. Two mevalocidin-producing fungal strains, Fusarium MSX 92917 and Rosellinia MSX 56446, were studied to optimize the production and a variety of traditional and non-traditional media were evaluated. A UPLC-HRMS method was developed for quantitative analysis of mevalocidin, and this has been used in conjunction with simple plant growth bioassays to measure productivity.

The goal of initial experiments was to increase the yield at least 250-fold over that initially observed, and this has been successfully accomplished.

B. C. Gerwick, W. K. Brewster, G. J. deBoer, S. C. Fields, P. R.Graupner, D. Hahn, Cedric J. Pearce, P. R. Schmitzer, J. D. Webster. Mevalocidin: A Novel, Phloem Mobile Phytotoxin from Fusarium DA056446 and Rosellinia DA092917. J. Chem. Ecol., 2013. DOI 10.1007/s10886 – 013 – 0238 – 7

Supported in part by USDA NIFA Phase I SBIR 2012 – 33610 – 19523 Pearce (PI) 6/12 – 5/14