Characterization of Prochloraz Resistance in Fusarium fujikuroi from Heilongjiang Province in China

Functional Plasticity, Redundancy, and Specificity of Lanosterol 14α-Demethylase in Regulating the Sensitivity to DMIs in Calonectria ilicicola

Cytochrome P450 sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) is a key enzyme involved in the sterol biosynthesis pathway and serves as a target for sterol demethylation inhibitors (DMIs). In this study, the 3D structures of three CPY51 paralogues from Calonectria ilicicola (C. ilicicola) were first modeled by AlphaFold2, and molecular docking results showed that CiCYP51A, CiCYP51B, or CiCYP51C proteins individually possessed two active pockets that interacted with DMIs. Our results showed that the three paralogues play important roles in development, pathogenicity, and sensitivity to DMI fungicides. Specifically, CiCYP51A primarily contributed to cell wall integrity maintenance and tolerance to abiotic stresses, and CiCYP51B was implicated in sexual reproduction and virulence, while CiCYP51C exerted negative regulatory effects on sterol 14α-demethylase activity within the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway, revealing its genus-specific function in C. ilicicola. These findings provide valuable insights into developing rational strategies for controlling soybean red crown rot caused by C. ilicicola.

Efficacy and toxic action of the natural product natamycin against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

BACKGROUND

Sclerotinia stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum seriously endangers oilseed rape production worldwide, and the occurrence of fungicide-resistant mutants of S. sclerotiorum leads to control decline. Thus, it is critical to explore new green substitutes with different action mechanisms and high antifungal activity. Herein, the activity and the action mechanism of natamycin against S. sclerotiorum were evaluated.

RESULTS

Natamycin showed potent inhibition on the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum, and half-maximal effective concentration (EC50 ) values against 103 S. sclerotiorum strains ranged from 0.53 to 4.04 μg/mL (mean 1.44 μg/mL). Natamycin also exhibited high efficacy against both carbendazim- and dimethachlone-resistant strains of S. sclerotiorum on detached oilseed rape leaves. No cross-resistance was detected between natamycin and carbendazim. Natamycin markedly disrupted hyphal form, sclerotia formation, integrity of the cell membrane, and reduced the content of oxalic acid and ergosterol, whereas it increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde content. Interestingly, exogenous addition of ergosterol could reduce the inhibition of natamycin against S. sclerotiorum. Importantly, natamycin significantly inhibited expression of the Cyp51 gene, which is contrary to results for the triazole fungicide flusilazole, indicating a different action mechanism from triazole fungicides.

CONCLUSION

Natamycin is a promising effective candidate for the resistance management of S. sclerotiorum. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Monitoring and characterization of prochloraz resistance in Fusarium fujikuroi in China

Rice bakanae disease, caused by Fusarium fujikuroi, is a destructive seed-borne disease throughout the world. Prochloraz, a DMI (C-14α-demethylase inhibitor) fungicide, has been registered in China for >20 years. Prochloraz resistance in F. fujikuroi was severe in China with resistance frequencies of 34.56%, 45.33%, and 48.45% from 2019 to 2021. The fitness of prochloraz-resistant population was lower than that of sensitive population, with an average CFI of 2.86 × 10⁶ and 4.56 × 10⁶, respectively. No cross-resistance was detected between prochloraz and tebuconazole or hexaconazole, and the prochloraz-resistant isolates were still sensitive to fludioxonil, phenamacril, and pydiflumetofen. S312T mutation in Ffcyp51b or overexpression of Ffcyp51a and Ffcyp51b was detected in the highly resistant isolates. AS-PCR primers were designed to detect the prochloraz-resistant isolates with S312T mutation in the field. Resistant isolates carrying S312T mutation were the dominant group in prochloraz-resistant population with frequencies of 43.26%, 23.59%, and 71.20% from 2019 to 2021, which indicated that more attention should be paid to this genotype when monitoring and managing the prochloraz resistance in F. fujikuroi.