Oligomycin-producing Sp. Newly Isolated from Swiss Soils Efficiently Protect Against

Importance: This study reports the isolation of new strains with strong plant-protective potential mediated by their production of specialized metabolites. Using the broad host range pathogenic fungus , we demonstrate that the cell-free filtrate of selected isolates efficiently inhibits different developmental stages of the fungus, including mycelial growth and the epidemiologically relevant spore germination. Beyond experiments, the strains and their metabolites also efficiently protected plants against the disease caused by this pathogen. This work further identifies oligomycins as active compounds involved in the observed antifungal activity of the strains. This work shows that we can harness the natural ability of soil-borne microbes and of their metabolites to efficiently fight other microbes responsible for significant crop losses. This opens the way to the development of environmentally friendly health protection measures for crops of agronomical relevance, based on these newly isolated strains or their metabolic extracts containing oligomycins.