Oocydin A, a chlorinated macrocyclic lactone with potent anti-oomycete activity from Serratia marcescens

A unique chlorinated macrocyclic lactone, termed oocydin A, was isolated from a strain of Serrafia marcescens growing as an epiphyte on Rhyncholacis pedicillata, an aquatic plant native to the Carrao river of the Venezuelan-Guyanan region of South America. The lactone has a molecular mass of 470 Da, and contains one atom of chlorine, a carboxyl group and a tetrahydrofuran ring internal to a larger macrocyclic ring. MICs of approximately 0.03 mu g ml(-1) were noted for oocydin A against such phytopathogenic oomycetes as Pythium ultimum, Phytophthora parasitica, Phytophthora cinnamomi and Phytophthora citrophora. With regard to the true fungi, oocydin A had either minimal or no effect against certain Fungi Imperfecti (including several pathogens of humans), two ascomycetes and a basidiomycete. Oocydin A may have potential as an antimycotic in agricultural applications and especially for crop protection.