Honors Theses
Date of Award
2017
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Chemistry and Biochemistry
First Advisor
Kumudini Meepagala
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
An unknown fungal species was cultured from necrotic Brachiaria eruciformis leaves found in Oxford, Mississippi. The fungus was identified via molecular techniques as Pyricularia grisea. This fungus was grown on Czapek Dox broth culture medium for 21 days under continuous light at 24 0C. The culture filtrate was extracted with ethyl acetate and concentrated. The major bioactive compound, namely pyrichalasin H, was isolated using TLC-guided fractionation and identified via spectroscopic techniques. The compound was then tested for bioactivity on monocotyledons, dicotyledons and agriculturally important fungal species. Cellular leakage, chlorophyll content and root/shoot length bioassays were also performed to probe the compound's phytotoxic mechanism of action. In addition to this project, targeted synthesis of structural analogs of a previously-isolated isochromanone compound was carried out in the laboratory. Structures were characterized by spectroscopic techniques and biological activity was evaluated, with significant phytotoxicity observed in monocots.
Recommended Citation
Clausen, Brandon, "Isolation and Identification of Bioactive Constituents of Plant Pathogenic Fungi and Targeted Synthesis of Isochromanone Analogs" (2017). Honors Theses. 134.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/134
Accessibility Status
Searchable text