The phytopathogenic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina: a potential resource for biosynthesis and biotransformation of bioactive compounds

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. is a ubiquitous fungal pathogen responsible for serious diseases of commercially important plants. It is the causal agent of stem and root rot, charcoal rot and seedling blight which are associated to severe yield losses in many crops. This fungal species is regarded as good source of bioactive metabolites, such as (−)-botryodiplodin, melleins, phaseolinic acid and phaseolinone. In fact, this review begins by discussing the biosynthetic capacity of M. phaseolina which produces low molecular weight compounds characterized by different chemical structures and bioactivities, including phytotoxicity, which is particularly relevant to explain the pathogenicity mechanisms and the host–pathogen interactions. Moreover, it is underlined the great ability of this fungus to biotransform exogenous organic compounds generating novel derivatives to be used as potential drug candidates. Overall, in this review we summarized a total of 49 bioactive secondary metabolites produced by M. phaseolina and 25 compounds that have been employed as substrates in biotransformation processes to obtain a total of 102 derivatives. Thus, M. phaseolina deserves the attention of researchers not only to manage diseases it causes in plants, but also as potential source of novel bioactive compounds obtained through biosynthesis and biotransformation processes.