Antagonostic effectiveness of Macromycetes against Candida albicans strains and Issatchenkia orientalis

The trend to search novel natural antifungal compounds has recently been increasing. Interspecific interactions between 30 Macromycetes species and fungal pathogens (Issatchenkia orientalis, Candida albicans strains) have been evaluated using dual culture plate assay. Interaction reactions between studied fungi were different: deadlock after mycelia contact or at a distance, overgrowth without initial deadlock, partial or complete replacement after initial deadlock with contact. Domination of replacement (78.7 %) of pathogenic fungi by Macromycetes was established. Complete replacement was almost twice more frequent (30.7 %) than partial replacement (19.3 %). These results clearly indicate effectiveness of Macromycetes against pathogenic fungi via contact antagonism. Strong antagonistic activity with high antagonistic index (AI) was established by xylotrophic species Ganoderma applanatum (AI = 22.5), Lentinula edodes (AI = 21.0), Flammulina velutipes, Irpiciporus litschaueri and Pleurotus ostreatus (AI = 20.5), leaf litter decay fungus Crinipellis schevczenkoi (AI = 21), and soil saprotroph Lyophyllum shimeji (AI = 21).