An antifungal and plant growth promoting metabolite from a sterile dark ectotrophic fungus

A sterile dark ectotrophic fungus isolated from roots of an Australian native grass, Neurachne alopecuroidea produces compound 1 in liquid cultures. The structure of the metabolite was determined by spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction studies. The metabolite shows activity against phytopathogens and plant growth promoting activity, properties that are also expressed in vivo by the ectotrophic fungus.