Bioherbicide production by Diaporthe sp. isolated from the Brazilian Pampa biome

In this study was presented a rational strategy to scale-up a wild fungal strain from the Brazilian Pampa biome to produce compounds with herbicidal activity in pre-emergence. It was defined the medium composition for the growth and production of bioherbicide in shaken flasks using sucrose corn steep liquor as substrate. In a second step, the process variables in a stirred-tank bioreactor were assessed. Maximum biomass production in shaken flasks was 23.87 g L−1 (41% higher than synthetic media) and in the bioreator 27.8 g L−1. The Diaporthe sp. growth in bioreactor was negatively affected by agitation higher than 40 rpm. The bioherbicide efficiency rate reached 100%, since none seed germinated after the application of fermented broth. The Brazilian Pampa biome could be an effective way to obtain high-value products from the biodiversity.