Estudo químico e potencial bioherbicida de Penicillium chrysogenum

Abstract

With high population growth amid technological development, a series of demands have also been growing for this evolution to occur in a sustainable way. Among these, it is possible to highlight the search for new substances that can be applied in the most varied sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, the food industry, among others. In this scenario, microbial natural resources have presented themselves as a promising alternative. Thus, the present work aimed to evaluate the bioherbicidal potential of organic extracts obtained from cultivation on solid media of the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. To produce the extracts, the fungus P. chrysogenum was cultivated on solid medium (rice) for a period of 30 days. Post cultivation, extracts were obtained by percolation using hexane and methanol. After concentration in a rotary evaporator under vacuum, the extracts were subjected to bioherbicide tests to evaluate their potential to inhibit the germination of Brachiaria decumbens seeds. The extracts were tested at concentrations of 0.50; 1.0; 1.5 and 2.0% (m/v). For a preliminary assessment of the chemical profile of the extracts, they were evaluated via high-performance liquid chromatography. From the germination percentages obtained in the bioassays, the hypothesis was raised that, contrary to what was expected, the extracts produced by P. chrysogenum have a phytohormonal effect, since the accumulated germination rates for the extracts increased with increasing concentration and for some treatments approaching or equaling the control. Among the extracts tested, hexane stood out with a germination rate of 30% at the highest concentration tested. Regarding the chemical profile, the extracts predominate polar substances with good absorption in the 254 nm region. Despite being preliminary, the results obtained motivate the carrying out of new tests in order to confirm the hypothesis that the extracts have a phytohormonal effect.