Physicochemical properties of the endophytic fungus Neurospora sitophila and its interaction with Botrytis cinerea

The endophytic fungus Neurospora sitophila has been identified as a promising natural source of antifungal compounds with potential application in sustainable crop protection. This study aimed to characterize N. sitophila through evaluation of its mycelial growth under varying temperatures and culture media, analysis of its secondary metabolites by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and assessment of its antagonistic potential against Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold. Growth assays revealed that PDA and MEA media supported optimal mycelial development at 5, 25, and 37 °C. GC-MS profiling indicated a predominance of volatile ethyl esters (86.97 %), including ethyl 4-octenoate (29.54 %), ethyl heptanoate (14.80 %), and ethyl butanoate (8.59 %), compounds typically associated with a fruity aroma. Dual-culture with B. cinerea significantly enhanced the antioxidant activity of N. sitophila, with values 4.5 times higher than those observed in the pure culture. Similarly, the total phenolic content increased by 2.5 times. Additionally, depending on conditions, N. sitophila inhibited B. cinerea mycelial growth by 35.8 ± 6.8 % to 58.4 ± 6.2 %. These findings highlight the potential of N. sitophila as a biocontrol agent and a valuable source of bioactive metabolites for biotechnological and agricultural applications.