Antifungal activity of valinomycin, a peptide antibiotic produced by Streptomyces sp. strain M10 antagonistic to Botrytis cinerea

A strain of Streptomyces sp. (M10) antagonistic to Botrytis cinerea was isolated from orchard soil obtained from Jeju Island, Korea. An antifungal substance (CN1) was purified from the culture extracts of the strain, and then identified as valinomycin through extensive spectroscopic analyses. Valinomycin showed potent in vitro antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea and also in vivo control efficacy against Botrytis blight development in cucumber plants. Overall, the disease control efficacy of valinomycin was similar to that of vinclozolin, a commercial fungicide. This study provides the first report on the disease control efficacy of valinomycin against Botrytis blight.