Evaluating the Antifungal Efficacy of Cordycepin Against Fusarium oxysporum f. Sp. cubense: An In Silico and In Vitro Approach.

Abstract

A destructive fungal disease called Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense can reduce agricultural productivity in banana fields by up to 100%. The current work investigates cordycepin, a naturally occurring substance obtained from Cordyceps species, as a sustainable antifungal agent to address this issue. Using molecular docking and simulation tools, we examined cordycepin's interactions with three essential Foc proteins: Secreted in Xylem 13 (SIX13), Foc secreted protein 9 (Fosp9), and a Cupin-type-1 domain-containing protein (FocTR4). Cordycepin demonstrated substantial binding affinities and produced stable complexes with all three targets: -9.3 kcal/mol (SIX13), -5.7 kcal/mol (Fosp9), and -8.3 kcal/mol (FocTR4), surpassing commercial fungicides such as prothioconazole and tebuconazole. Protein-protein interaction study further suggested that these targets are fundamental to broader functional networks, suggesting that cordycepin may interfere with essential physiological functions. Its antifungal action was validated by in vitro tests, where cordycepin demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of Foc mycelial growth, reaching almost total suppression at 1000 ppm. These results demonstrate cordycepin's promise as a cutting-edge, powerful antifungal therapy for treating Foc TR4 infections.