Controle de bactérias fitopatogênicas por Chalconas Catecólicas e sua toxicidade

Abstract

Every year billions of dollars are spent on agriculture in order to control pests. Among them, more than 200 species are only phytopathogenic bacteria, including: Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri; X. euvesicatoria pv. perforans; X. vasicola pv. vasculorum; X. campestris pv. campestris; Pectobacterium carotovorum; Xylella fastidiosa; Ralstonia solanacearum; Pantoea ananatis; Pseudomonas fluorescens; Burkholderia cepacia. Phytosanitary management occurs mainly through the excessive application of pesticides based on heavy metals and antibiotics that resulted in the emergence of resistance mechanisms, highlighting the need to search for new alternative measures such as natural bioactive compounds. Chalcones (1,3-diphenylprop-2-en-1- one), naturally present in plants, have attracted attention due to their therapeutic properties and antimicrobial potential. Its easy chemical synthesis and modifications in molecules are of notable interest to researchers and industries in order to obtain more biological applications. Therefore, the objectives of this present study were to explore the antibacterial activity against phytopathogens of catecholic chalcones and their toxicity through in vitro and in vivo studies. Catecholic chalcones showed bactericidal activity in promising concentrations varying from 12.5 to 50 μg/mL and toxicity at concentrations greater than those with antibacterial properties. Based on the results obtained, it is concluded that catecholic chalcones have promising activity against phytopathogenic bacteria, encouraging further studies on their mechanisms of action and suggesting their possible safe application as a pesticide.