Chemistry and bioactivities of secondary metabolites from the genus Fusarium

A growing body of evidence suggests that endophytic fungi represent a huge and largely untapped resource of natural products with novel structures and biodiversity that have been optimized by evolution for biological and ecological relevance. Fusarium species, known as the chief criminal of causing quality and yield reductions of grain crops, is a large genus of filamentous fungi with worldwide distribution. The chemical structures of 162 metabolites isolated and characterized from Fusarium species during the past six years are presented along with information of their biological activities. Biosynthesis of some biologically important mycotoxins are also reviewed.