Introduction: The field of experimental microbiology allows for the creation of new avenues of biotechnology with the aim of facilitating the extensive utilization of microbial synthesis products in agriculture as plant protection agents. The most prevalent biological substances are antibiotics, alkaloids, peptides, phenolic compounds, lipids, terpenoids, polysaccharides, organic acids, and others. The objective of this study was to assess the fungicidal, bactericidal, and nematocidal activity of carboxylic acids produced by the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.
Methods: Succinic acid (SA), isocitric acid monopotassium salt (ICA), and α-ketoglutaric acid monopotassium salt (KGA) were synthesized under specific conditions using Y. lipolytica, and subsequently isolated from the culture liquid in crystalline form with 99.9% purity. The fungicidal and bactericidal activities of carboxylic acids were determined by the agar diffusion method. The phytopathogenic bacteria Erwinia carotovora and the fungi Trichothecium roseum, Cylindrocarpon, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, F. napiforme, and Penicillium casei were employed as test microorganisms. The nematocidal activity of carboxylic acids was investigated against the phytoparasitic stem nematode Ditylenchus destructor.
Results: The selective antimicrobial activity of carboxylic acids produced by Y. lipolytica has been demonstrated. The acids were subjected to testing against six test microorganisms, with four being inhibited. Moreover, it was demonstrated that all acids were capable of inactivating the nematode D. destructor. The nematostatic activity ranged from 13 to 37.6%, while the nematocidal activity ranged from 22.4 to 58.3%. The highest nematocidal activity was observed with SA.
Conclusions: The utilization of SA, ICA, and KGA produced by Y. lipolytica for the purpose of plant protection may be regarded as a highly promising avenue of research, given that pests have not yet developed resistance to these acids. Furthermore, the acids produced by microorganisms are of a higher purity than those that are chemically synthesized.
