Bio-based products to protect Scots pine against damage due to rust fungi

The secondary metabolites occurring in leaves of rust resistant and susceptible alternate hosts of Cronartium spp. will be isolated and characterized. The effect of these leaf extracts on the growth of Cronartium will be studied both in vitro in the laboratory and in vivo in the greenhouse. Also the effect of some extract on the growth of C. pini in Scots pine seedlings will also be tested. The endophytic fungi occurring in leaves of resistant and susceptible alternate hosts will also be isolated and characterized, and the effect of leaf extracts on the growth of endophytes will be tested. The spatial, temporal and geographical variation in the secondary metabolites and endophytic composition will also be studied.

A list of chemicals that inhibit growth of Cronartium rusts will be created. The characterized chemicals can be used as basic elements for new products in chemical industry. In the long run these compounds allow testing their effects on other pathogens, e.g. human pathogens, and possibly further medical testings. The results increase knowledge about the interaction between Cronartium rusts and their alternate hosts. Scientific articles will be written from the results of the chemical compounds and their effects. Information about the chemicals related to rust resistance will allow development of rust control against Cronartium rusts. Screening of chemicals from previously unknown from their rust-resistance plant species may allow finding of new rust-resistant species and cultivars. Discovery of chemicals that inhibit growth of Cronartium will allow further utilization and development of these chemicals in chemical industry. The effect of the inhibitive chemicals can be tested against other plant and human pathogens that can finally lead to development of new medicines and finally to health-care of human diseases.