Secondary metabolites induction in Mammillaria huitzilopochtli (Cactaceae) and evaluation of the fungicidal activity

Bioactive compounds isolated from Mammillaria huitzilopochtli were evaluated in a biological activity test (% inhibition) against eight phytopathogen fungi. The fungi evaluated were: Cladosporium sp., Phoma sp., Alternaria sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Fusarium sp., Fusarium moniliforme, Helmintosporium sp. and Phaecilomyces sp. A suspension culture of M. huitzilopochtli was established using MS medium with 0.1 mg/l of 2,4-D and elicited with fungic homogenate. The defensive compounds produced were segregated to culture medium. Maximum production was obtained four days after the induction. The total extract showed inhibition for all fungi to 100 μg/ml, but at 400 μg/ml the Phoma fungus was inhibited 100%. This extract could be used eventually against the Phoma fungus, a pathogen of potatoes.