Variación de los constituyentes químicos y potencialidad antifúngica de individuos de Piper eriopodon frente a fitopatógenos asociados a cultivos agrícolas

Abstract

There is a growing commercial interest in the export of fruits or products derived from certain species of the Passifloraceae family, particularly those known as granadilla (Passiflora ligularis), gulupa (P. edulis var. edulis), and passion fruit (P. edulis var. flavicarpa). However, production yields are low compared to the main global producers, due to various factors, among which diseases caused by phytopathogenic agents in the crops stand out. To control these types of phytopathogens, chemical substances have been used, which tend to have low selectivity, are harmful to the environment, and often leave residues exceeding the concentration limits allowed by consumer countries. Piper eriopodon (Miq.) C.DC is a species belonging to the Piperaceae family that, based on previous research, has great potential for controlling fungi that affect commercially important crops. However, studies on its effects against phytopathogens associated with Passifloraceae crops are very limited. This study contributes to establishing relationships between the metabolomic profiles of P. eriopodon from different geographic regions of Colombia and its antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi of Passifloraceae. The methodology included collecting different samples of P. eriopodon from municipalities in Santander, Boyacá, and Cundinamarca. Ethanol extracts were obtained from the plant material, which were analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). The data were processed through multivariate statistical analyses to identify differentiating chemical patterns among individuals. In parallel, the antifungal activity of the extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds was evaluated through in vitro assays, determining the percentage of mycelial growth inhibition (%MGI) against the three fungi. The metabolomic analyses revealed high chemical diversity in P. eriopodon, with marked differences between organs but only moderate variations by locality and no clear relationship with altitude. Although some metabolites were more abundant in individuals collected above 2000 meters above sea level, this trend was inconsistent. Multivariate analysis allowed the identification of a possible antifungal marker (m/z 291.1597, retention time = 10.27 min), more abundant in the extract from the individual collected in Arcabuco (Boyacá), which showed the highest activity against the three evaluated phytopathogens. Stems and inflorescences stood out for their greater inhibition against Fusarium sp. Together, the results suggest that P. eriopodon is a promising source of bioactive compounds for the development of natural fungicides, particularly against pathogens of Passifloraceae crops.