# Antifungal Potential of Diaporthe sp. Endophytes from Antillean Avocado Against Fusarium spp.: From Organic Extracts to In Silico Chitin Synthase Inhibition

## TL;DR

This study explores antifungal compounds from avocado endophytes that could inhibit Fusarium species, offering a sustainable disease management solution.

## Contribution

The study identifies Diaporthe endophytes from Antillean avocado as a source of bioactive metabolites with potential antifungal activity against Fusarium species.

## Key findings

- Diaporthe endophytes showed antifungal activity with IC50 values near 200 μg/mL against Fusarium species.
- In silico analysis identified diaporxanthone A and B as promising antifungal candidates with scores comparable to Nikkomycin Z.
- The compounds may inhibit fungal cell wall synthesis by targeting chitin synthase.

## Abstract

Fungal endophytes have emerged as a promising source of bioactive compounds with potent antifungal properties for plant disease management. This study aimed to isolate and characterize fungal endophytes from Antillean avocado (Persea americana var. americana) trees in the Colombian Caribbean, capable of producing bio-fungicide metabolites against Fusarium solani and Fusarium equiseti. For this, dual culture assays, liquid-state fermentation of endophytic isolates, and metabolite extractions were conducted. From 88 isolates recovered from leaves and roots, those classified within the Diaporthe genus exhibited the most significant antifungal activity. Some of their organic extracts displayed median inhibitory concentrations (IC50) approaching 200 μg/mL. To investigate the mechanism of action, in silico studies targeting chitin synthase (CS) were performed, including homology models of the pathogens’ CS generated using Robetta, followed by molecular docking with Vina and interaction fingerprint similarity analysis of 15 antifungal metabolites produced by Diaporthe species using PROLIF. A consensus scoring strategy identified diaporxanthone A (12) and diaporxanthone B (13) as the most promising candidates, achieving scores up to 0.73 against F. equiseti, comparable to the control Nikkomycin Z (0.82). These results suggest that Antillean avocado endophytes produce bioactive metabolites that may inhibit fungal cell wall synthesis, offering a sustainable alternative for disease management.