Dicarboximide resistance in Botrytis cinerea in protected lettuce

In surveys of protected lettuce crops in the Humberside area of the UK during 1984-5, 47.3% of Botrytis cinerea isolates were resistant to dicarboximides and 25% to benomyl. Dicarboximide-resistant isolates obtained direct from the field had a moderate degree of resistance with ED₅₀ values for mycelial growth on agar of 1.0-2.4 μg/ml vinclozolin for all except two of 30 isolates.
Isolates which were resistant to vinclozolin were also resistant to iprodione, myclozolin and procymidone. Thirty dicarboximide-resistant isolates obtained direct from the field were capable of infecting cucumber cotyledons sprayed with field-strength Ronilan (250 μg/ml vinclozolin) whereas sensitive strains were not. Strains showing different degrees of resistance to dicarboximides developed after incubation of sensitive and resistant strains on agar supplemented with vinclozolin. Some of these strains had ED₅₀ values for mycelial growth on agar of more than 100 μg/ml vinclozolin. No highly resistant isolates were obtained direct from the field. Resistance to dicarboximides in field isolates was stable.     

Evolution of resistance to different classes of fungicides in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis> from greenhouse vegetables in eastern China

Between 2003 and 2005, 337 isolates of Botrytis cinerea collected from greenhouse vegetables were characterized for resistance to fungicides. A low level of chlorothalonil resistance was detected and in these resistant isolates there was cross-resistance to captan and thiram. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of chlorothalonil resistance in B. cinerea from vegetables in China. The sub-population of B. cinerea highly resistant to benzimidazoles developed quickly during the years 2003 to 2005. Rapid spread of double resistance to benzimidazoles and diethofencarb was also observed. Resistance to dicarboximides was of low-level character and no highly resistant isolates were detected. In contrast, emergence of resistance to pyrimethanil, the only anilinopyrimidine fungicide used in China at present, was detected in 2003 just 3 years after pyrimethanil introduction. Pyrimethanil-resistant isolates demonstrated fitness comparable with that of wild sensitive isolates. These results suggest that pyrimethanil has a high risk of leading to resistance development in B. cinerea in greenhouse vegetables.     

Failure to detect highly resistant strains in dicarboximide resistant field populations of Botrytis cinerea1

Field isolates of Botrytis cinerea with moderate levels of resistance to dicarboximide fungicides (ED50 1.0–4.9 μg ml^?1) and to dicloran were obtained from glasshouses where vinclozolin and iprodione failed to control grey mould. From sensitive and moderatcly-resistant cultures, laboratory isolates were selected on dicarboximide-amended medium, which were highly resistant to these fungicides (ED50 125->3000 μg ml^?1). Conidia of all the resistant isolates germinated well on media amended with 100 μg ml^?1 of the dicarboximides vinclozolin, iprodione, procymidone and myclozolin and with 5 μg ml^?1 of metomeclan. However, the spores of the moderately resistant isolates did not germinate on 100 μg ml^?1 metomeclan while the spores of the highly resistant isolates germinated well. Using media with 100 μg ml^?1 of metomeclan to distinguish between the two phenotypes, no highly resistant strain was detected among 312 resistant samples from five cucumber glasshouses with a high frequency of moderately resistant strains. From air-borne inoculum of five glasshouses with 100% resistant populations, 1604 colonies were recovered on vinclozolin-amended (100 μg ml^?1) medium and none on metomeclan-amended (100 μg ml^?1) medium. It is concluded that strains of B. cinerea highly resistant to dicarboximides are absent from field populations.     

Distribution and fitness of isolates of Botrytis cinerea with multiple fungicide resistance in Spanish greenhouses

Forty-nine greenhouses of vegetable crops were surveyed in southeast Spain at the beginning of the disease season in December 1992 to estimate frequencies of resistance to benzimidazoles, dicarboximides and N -phenylcarbamates (NPC) in B. cinerea . Out of 261 isolates collected, 28% were sensitive to both benzimidazoles and dicarboximides, 15% were benzimidazole-resistant and dicarboximide-sensitive, 8% were benzimidazole-sensitive and dicarboximide-resistant and 46% were benzimidazole- and dicarboximide-resistant. Resistance to benzimidazole, dicarboximide and N -phenylcarbamate was determined by measuring the ability of each isolate to grow in the presence of carbendazim, procymidone and diethofencarb fungicides respectively. Carbendazim- or procymidone- resistant isolates were found in all surveyed greenhouses. Three isolates were found with resistance to carbendazim, procymidone and diethofencarb collected in two adjacent greenhouses that were sprayed with the carbendazim and diethofencarb mixture. All other isolates were sensitive to the mixture because they were either sensitive to carbendazim and resistant to diethofencarb or vice versa. Fitness of 31 isolates of B. cinerea was determined in vivo by measuring their sporulation and lesion growth rate on leaf disks. No fitness costs were associated with resistance to iprodione (dicarboximide) and benomyl (benzimidazole). Isolates with EC₅₀ values higher than 101 mg/L for benomyl and 1.6 mg/L for iprodione were considered to be field resistant (they caused visible lesions on cucumber leaf disks treated with each fungicide).     

Field strains of Stemphylium vesicarium with a resistance to dicarboximide fungicides correlated with changes in a two-component histidine kinase

In Stemphylium vesicarium, four phenotypes were recognized according to their in vitro responses to dicarboximide fungicides: S (sensitive), S₊ (low resistant to iprodione and procymidone but moderately resistant to vinclozolin), R₁ (moderately resistant to iprodione and vinclozolin but highly resistant to procymidone), R₂ (highly resistant to all dicarboximides). Cross-resistance was observed between dicarboximides and aromatic hydrocarbon fungicides in all cases while cross-resistance to phenylpyrroles was only detected in R₂ phenotype. Moreover, no changes were noted in sensitivity to oxidative and osmotic stress inducers. An osmosensing histidine kinase gene, homologous to OS1 from Neurospora crassa, was sequenced from several field isolates of Stemphylium vesicarium. This gene is predicted to encode a 1,329 amino acid protein, comprising a conserved histidine-kinase domain in the C-terminal region and six tandem repeats of about 90 amino acids at the N-terminal end. In S₊ and R₁ phenotype isolates, a single amino acid substitution was observed in the first amino acid repeat; F267L and L290S respectively. For the R₂ isolates, the exchanges T765R or Q777R were located within the histidine-kinase domain.     

A Point Mutation in the Two-Component Histidine Kinase BcOS-1 Gene Confers Dicarboximide Resistance in Field Isolates of Botrytis cinerea

ABSTRACT Partial DNA fragments of Botrytis cinerea field isolates encoding the putative osmosensor histidine kinase gene (BcOS1) were cloned by polymerase chain reaction amplification and the predicted amino acid sequences were compared between dicarboximide-sensitive and resistant field isolates. The predicted BcOS1p is highly homologous to osmosensor histidine kinase OS1p from Neurospora crassa including the N-terminal six tandem repeats of approximately 90 amino acids. Four dicarboximide-resistant isolates of B. cinerea (Bc-19, Bc-45, Bc-682, and Bc-RKR) contained a single base pair mutation in their BcOS1 gene that resulted in an amino acid substitution in the predicted protein. In these resistant isolates, codon 86 of the second repeat, which encodes an isoleucine residue in sensitive strains, was converted to a codon for serine. The mutation of Botrytis field resistant isolates was located on the second unit of tandem amino acid repeats of BcOS1p, whereas the point mutations of the fifth repeat of OS1p confer resistance to both dicarboximides and phenylpyrroles and also osmotic sensitivity in Neurospora crassa. These results suggest that an amino acid substitution within the second repeat of BcOS1p is responsible for phenotypes of field resistant isolates (resistant to dicarboximides but sensitive to phenylpyrroles, and normal osmotic sensitivity) in B. cinerea.     

The occurrence, characteristics and distribution in the United Kingdom of resistance to phenylamide fungicides in Bremia lactucae (lettuce downy mildew)

Failure to control Bremia lactucae (lettuce downy mildew) with metalaxyl in an intensive lettuce-producing region of Lancashire at the end of 1983 was shown to be due to the occurrence of a high level of resistance to this fungicide (isolates capable of growth at < 100 μg/ml metalaxyl). During most of 1984, metalaxyl-resistant isolates were obtained from numerous sites but all within a 20-km radius of the initial outbreak. Thereafter, at the end of 1984 and during 1985, metalaxyl-resistant isolates were recovered from most major lettuce-producing regions in the UK with protected crops more affected than field crops. AH metalaxyl-resistant isolates tested were identical in their response to fungicide, sexual compatibility type (B2) and virulence phenotype, probably representing a clone from a single origin. The resistant pathotype was virulent on resistance factors R 1-10 and 12-15 but lacked virulence for R 11 and 16-18. This was also the most common virulence phenotype among sensitive isolates collected at the same time. Cross-resistance to other phenylamide fungicides was demonstrated but isolates resistant and sensitive to phenylamide showed a similar response to the unrelated systemic fungicides propamocarb and fosetyl-Al. An F₁ sexual progeny isolate from a cross between a phenylamide-sensitive and a phenylamide-resistant isolate (presumed heterozygous at the locus or loci regulating response to phenylamide fungicides) exhibited an intermediate response to phenylamide fungicides. No isolates of this type were obtained from the field. At the high concentrations affecting spore germination, phenylamide fungicides exhibited lower activity against a resistant isolate compared with a sensitive isolate. The findings are discussed in relation to future control strategies, the population biology of the fungus and possible directions for lettuce breeding programmes.     

Resistance profiles of Botrytis cinerea populations to several fungicide classes on greenhouse tomato and strawberry in Lebanon

Tomato and strawberry are the most important protected crops in Lebanon and are seriously affected by grey mould disease, caused by Botrytis cinerea. In the present study, the fungicide sensitivity assays revealed medium to high frequencies of B. cinerea isolates resistant to benzimidazoles, dicarboximides, and anilinopyrimidines on tomato and strawberry. Fludioxonil- and boscalid-resistant mutants were uncommonly found at generally low frequency on both crops. Resistance to fenhexamid was detected in only one site on tomato but in most sites on strawberry with high frequencies, and the occurrence of resistance to QoI fungicides was ascertained on both crops. The majority of the tested isolates (>90%) exhibited multiple fungicide resistance, and isolates resistant to the seven antibotrydial fungicide classes were detected on strawberry in three locations. A high level of resistance was shown by B. cinerea mutants resistant to boscalid, fenhexamid, and QoI fungicides, while two levels of moderate and high resistance to anilinopyrimidines were identified. Genetic analysis revealed point mutations in the target genes commonly associated with resistance in B. cinerea isolates, with all mutants resistant to dicarboximides, fenhexamid, boscalid, and QoI fungicides carrying single-nucleotide polymorphims in BcOS1 (I365S/N, Q369P, and N373S), Erg27 (F412V/I), SdhB (H272R/Y), and cytb (G143A) genes, respectively. The general incorrect use of fungicides has caused the development and spread of fungicide resistance as a widespread phenomenon on protected tomato and strawberry in Lebanon. The implementation of appropriate antiresistance strategies is highly recommended.     

Resistance to polyoxin AL and other fungicides in Botrytis cinerea collected from sweet basil crops in Israel

A total of 568 B. cinerea isolates were collected from diseased sweet basil plants and the air in 10 sweet basil greenhouses. Mycelial growth tests were used to evaluate the sensitivity of these isolates to benomyl, fenhexamid, iprodione, polyoxin AL and pyrimethanil. EC₅₀ values for polyoxin, the main botryticide on sweet basil in Israel, ranged from 0.4 to 6.5 μg ml^?1 and had a bimodal distribution; the EC₅₀ values for sensitive isolates ranged from 0.4 to 1.5 μg ml^?1 and the EC₅₀ values for low-level resistant isolates ranged from 4 to 6.5 μg ml^?1. Among populations that had not been exposed to polyoxin treatments, 20 to 35 % of the collected isolates were low-level resistant for polyoxin. Polyoxin treatments in an experimental greenhouse shifted the equilibrium in favour of low-level resistant isolates, and the change occurred rapidly: from a frequency of 20 % low-level resistant isolates in the population that had never been treated with polyoxin to a frequency of 72 % after a few treatments over two seasons. Prolonged use of polyoxin in Israeli basil crops (in some sites for more than 10 years) does not appear to have led to the development of high-level resistance, but low-level resistant isolates were found in commercial greenhouses with the frequency of up to 73 %. High-level resistance to benzimidazoles was common (60 to 80 % of isolates) in greenhouses with a history of benzimidazole treatments; whereas 15–25 % of the isolates from greenhouses in which fungicides were not used were resistant. Low-level resistance to dicarboximides was fairly widespread (frequency of 30 to 80 % depending on the greenhouse) and a few cases of moderate resistance to dicarboximides were also noted (frequency of 0 to 9 %). Neither high- nor low-level resistance to anilinopyrimidines was common in sweet basil commercial greenhouses (0 to 7 %). However, 34 % of the isolates were strongly resistant in the experimental greenhouse, following a few treatments with anilinopyrimidine fungicides during the previous season. Before those treatments, the proportion of anilinopyrimidines resistant isolates had been 1 %. About 3 % of the isolates exhibited low-level resistance to fenhexamid and no isolates were found to be strongly resistant to fenhexamid. Low-level resistance to one fungicide was often associated with low-level resistances to other fungicides. Thirty-two phenotypes exhibiting resistance to one or more of the tested fungicides were noted among B. cinerea isolates. Resistant isolates showed similar or reduced fitness parameters in comparison to wild-type isolates.     

Negative cross resistance between benzimidazole and N-phenylcarbamate fungicides and control of Botrytis cinerea on grapes

Isolates of Botrytis cinerea resistant to benzimidazoles (Ben^R), dicarboximides (Dic^R), or both (Ben^R Dic^R) were found on table grapes in vineyards in Israel. In vineyards treated for one or two seasons with benomyl and dicarboximides, 41% of the isolates were benomyl-resistant, 18% were dicarboximide-resistant and 21 % were resistant to both fungicides. The frequency of resistant strains was very low in non-treated vineyards. Negatively correlated cross resistance (NCCR) was manifested by 46 Ben^R isolates which were sensitive to isopropyl N -(3,4-diethoxyphenyl) carbamate (NPC) and 73 benomyl-sensitive (Ben^s) isolates which were insensitive to NPC; NCCR was not influenced by sensitivity to dicarboximides. A mixture of Ben^s Dic^R plus Ben^R Dic^s isolates, inoculated on rose petals, was inhibited by mixtures of benzimidazoles plus NPC but not by benomyl, NPC or iprodione alone. Grey mould, incited on maturing grape berries by a vineyard population composed of Ben^s and Ben^R strains, was not controlled by benomyl, while the mixture of NPC plus carbendazim was effective.     

Screening of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis> isolates from vineyards in Israel for resistance to fungicides

Plots in two vineyards in the Golan Heights, Israel were treated with six botryticides during three growing seasons with 3 applications per season. Applications of fenhexamid, pyrimethanil and cyprodinil + fludioxonil were effective, resulting in 52–65% and 53–63% mean reduction in grey mould incidence and severity, respectively. Carbendazim, fluazinam and iprodione were ineffective or slightly effective. Five hundred and sixteen B. cinerea isolates were collected from infected berries or trapped from the air in the vineyards, and profiles of sensitivity to benomyl, fenhexamid, fluazinam, fludioxonil, iprodione and pyrimethanil were established for each of the isolates based on a mycelial growth test. Seventy-four percent of the isolates were sensitive to the six tested fungicides, and the other 26% of the isolates were classified into 10 phenotypes characterized by resistance to one or more fungicides. Resistant isolates showed fitness parameters similar or reduced in comparison to sensitive isolates. Resistance to benzimidazoles and to dicarboximides was the most frequent (up to 25%) and apparently pre-existed in the populations tested. Increased frequency of benzimidazole resistance, but not dicarboximide resistance, was observed following the 3 years of applications of the fungicides. High level resistance to pyrimethanil was present at a frequency of about 2% in both vineyards in the first 2 years of the sampling survey and reached 10% in the third year at Site 2. A few isolates were resistant to fenhexamid or fludioxonil (0.8 or 0.2%, respectively). No strong resistance to fluazinam was detected, although numerous, less sensitive isolates, presumably possessing multi-drug resistance traits, were recovered at higher frequency from the plots treated with fluazinam than from the untreated plots.     

抗戊唑醇苹果轮纹病菌的紫外诱导及其生物学特性

在含戊唑醇的马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂(PDA)培养基上,通过紫外线诱导获得了9株对戊唑醇具有不同抗性水平的苹果轮纹病菌 Botryosphaeria berengriana f.sp. piricola 抗药性突变体,其抗性指数在11.00~67.88之间。将该抗药性突变体继代培养9代后,大多数突变体的抗性指数逐渐下降,但其中有2 株抗药性突变体(UV-TS1-f和UV-TS1-10)仍保持较高的抗性水平;抗药性突变体的致病力与敏感菌株相比未发生明显变化;与敏感菌株一样,抗药性突变体适宜生长的温度也为25~28 ℃,pH值为7~8;在含不同碳、氮源的培养基中,抗药性突变体的菌丝生长与菌丝干重与敏感菌株相比差异明显。研究表明,苹果轮纹病菌在药剂选择压下易形成抗戊唑醇群体,具有中等或高抗药性风险。     

Strains of Botrytis cinerea resistant to dicarboximide and benzimidazole fungicides in New Zealand vineyards

In a survey of New Zealand vineyards at harvest 1985, isolates of Botrytis cinerea resistant to benzimidazole and to dicarboximide fungicides were common. The mean frequency of resistance in the major vine-growing districts ranged from 8 to 41% for benzimidazoles, and from 51 to 59% for dicarboximides. All benzimidazole-resistant isolates showed high levels of resistance (EC50 greater than 100 mg/l carbendazim based on radial growth response), and all dicarboximide-resistant isolates showed low levels of resistance. Two subgroups of dicarboximide-resistant isolates were recognized, distinguished in the first instance by their osmotic response. Low-level resistant isolates, which formed a dense margin on osmotically amended medium, exhibited an EC50 for mycelial growth on iprodione of c. 3-2 mg/l; ultra-low-level resistant isolates, which formed a fibrillose margin on osmotically amended medium identical to that of sensitive isolates, exhibited an EC50 of c. 1-3 mg/1. In agar culture, radial growth rate, and conidial and sclerotial production of both subgroups were similar to those of sensitive isolates. Virulence (lesion size) and conidial production on grape berries were highest in sensitive isolates, intermediate in ultra-low-level dicarboximide-resistant isolates, and lowest in low-level dicarboximide-resistant isolates. Evidence is presented indicating that ultra-low-level dicarboximide-resistant strains have progressively replaced low-level dicarboximide-resistant strains in the vineyard population. The presence of dicarboximide-resistant strains was linked with a partial loss of fungicide efficacy.     

Stability and fitness of pyraclostrobin- and boscalid-resistant phenotypes in field isolates of Botrytis cinerea from apple

Phenotype stability, fitness, and competitive ability of pyraclostrobin- and boscalid-resistant isolates of Botrytis cinerea from apple were investigated. Stability of resistance was determined after consecutive transfers on potato dextrose agar (PDA) or being cycled on apple fruit. In vitro fitness components mycelial growth, osmotic sensitivity, conidial germination, and sporulation were evaluated on agar media. Pathogenicity, virulence and sporulation on apple fruit were evaluated at both 20 and 0°C. Competition between fungicide-resistant and -sensitive isolates on apple fruit also was evaluated. Resistance to the two fungicides was retained at levels similar to that of the initial generation after 20 and 10 transfers on PDA and five and three disease cycles on apple fruit at 20 and 0°C, respectively. Great variability in individual fitness components tested was observed among isolates within the same phenotype groups either sensitive or resistant to the fungicides but, when compared as phenotype groups, there were no significant differences in the mean values of these fitness components between resistant and sensitive phenotypes except that the phenotype resistant only to boscalid produced fewer conidia in vitro than sensitive isolates. Resistant isolates were as pathogenic and virulent on apple fruit as sensitive isolates. There was no significant correlation between the values of individual fitness components tested and the level of resistance to pyraclostrobin or boscalid, except that virulence at 20°C positively correlated with the level of resistance to the two fungicides. The final frequency of pyraclostrobin-resistant individuals in the populations was significantly decreased compared with the initial generation and no boscalid-resistant individuals were detected after four disease cycles on apple fruit inoculated with a pair mixture of a dual-sensitive isolate and one isolate each of the three phenotypes resistant to pyraclostrobin, boscalid, or both. The results suggest that resistance of B. cinerea to pyraclostrobin and boscalid was stable in the absence of the fungicides and that resistance to the two fungicides did not significantly impair individual fitness components tested. However, both pyraclostrobin- and boscalid-resistant isolates exhibited competitive disadvantage over the dual-sensitive isolate on apple fruit.     

设施蔬菜灰霉病菌对不同类型杀菌剂的抗性检测

为了明确设施蔬菜灰霉病菌Botryotinia fuckeliana的抗药性现状,采用菌丝生长速率法检测了20052006年采自浙江、江苏、山东和辽宁4省的144个菌株对6种常用防治药剂的敏感性。结果表明,灰霉病菌对百菌清已经产生了低水平的抗性,频率为5.56%,其对多菌灵的抗性非常严重,总的抗性频率为43.05%,高抗(HR)频率为27.08%;乙霉威的EC50值在0.137728.9μg/mL之间,平均为40.06μg/mL。其中多菌灵-乙霉威双抗频率为36.11%,且首次检测到了两种新的双抗类型。二甲酰亚胺类杀菌剂在生产上已经应用近20年,但灰霉病菌对异菌脲和腐霉利只有频率为20%左右的低水平抗性,没有检测到高抗菌株;苯胺嘧啶类杀菌剂嘧霉胺虽然只应用几年时间,但已经产生了抗性,其抗性菌株频率为4.16%。研究表明,设施蔬菜灰霉病菌对常用的6种防治药剂均产生了不同程度的抗性。     

番茄灰霉病菌对嘧霉胺的抗药性

2001年从辽宁省不同地区的保护地中采集番茄灰霉病果或病叶，经单孢分离共获得番茄灰霉病菌70株。采用菌丝生长速率法测定了其对嘧霉胺的敏感性。结果表明，番茄灰霉病菌已对嘧霉胺产生中等水平抗药性，抗性频率为20．0％。经室内药剂诱导获得了高抗菌株，抗性倍数最高达35．7倍。嘧霉胺与多菌灵及嘧霉胺与速克灵间不存在交互抗药性。野生抗性菌株具有较好的遗传稳定性，连续转接9次后抗药性无明显下降。不同菌株的菌丝生长速度、鲜重和渗透敏感性存在显著差异，但该差异与灰霉病菌对嘧霉胺的敏感性无相关性。抗性菌株与敏感菌株具有同样的致病能力。     

Survival of dicarboximide-resistant strains ofBotrytis cinerea in plant debris during summer in Israel

Survival- ofBotrytis cinerea was monitored during two summer seasons. Mycelium and conidia were found dead on the surface of plant debris within 2 months of incubation, whereas a high level of viability was detected in thallus of the pathogen which was 1–2 mm inside the dry host tissue. Of the 148 samples of infected senescing cucumber female fruits, 8% survived seven warm months; half of these isolates ofB. cinerea were resistant to dicarboximides (5 (μ/ml iprodione). Of the stems of cucumber infected withB. cinerea in winter, 18% yielded the pathogen at the beginning of the following winter; 15% of the surviving isolates were resistant to dicarboximides. Cucumber seedlings artificially infected byB. cinerea did not yield the pathogen longer than 9 weeks after establishment of infection, even when incubated in the shade. Plant debris with symptoms of gray mold were kept in the shade during the summer; at the beginning of winter it was possible to establish infection ofB. cinerea from the dry debris.     

烟草黑胫病菌抗甲霜灵突变体的诱导及其适合度研究

室内离体条件下采用药剂诱导法,获得了11个烟草黑胫病菌抗甲霜灵突变体;检测了所有抗药突变体的抗药稳定性及抗性水平;比较了3个低抗和1个高抗突变体的适合度。结果表明:在2~20 μg/mL范围内,抗药突变体的发生频率随甲霜灵诱导浓度的增加而提高;所有抗药突变体的抗药性都能稳定遗传;11个抗药突变体中,10个为低抗突变体(抗性水平3.55~13.9倍,平均8.60倍),1个为高抗突变体(抗性水平510倍);低抗菌株20M-001、10M-003、10M-006和高抗菌株10M-004的适合度指数分别为0.56、0.38、0.38和0.87;抗药突变体的适合度指数与抗性水平不相关。     

Detection and characterization of fungicide resistant phenotypes of Botrytis cinerea in lettuce crops in Greece

The development of resistance to chemical control agents needs continuous monitoring in Botrytis cinerea. 790 isolates from lettuce and other vegetable crops were collected from six widely separated sites in Greece and tested for their sensitivity to 11 fungicides from nine unrelated chemical groups. 44 of the isolates exhibited multiple resistance to fenhexamid (hydroxyanilides), azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin (QoI’s), boscalid (SDHI’s), cyprodinil and pyrimethanil (anilinopyrimidines), fludioxonil (phenylpyrroles), carbendazim (benzimidazoles) and iprodione (dicarboximides). Thirty per cent of such phenotypes were detected in an experimental glasshouse with lettuce crops, the third year after commencing fungicide applications. The average resistance factor (R_f) for mycelial growth to fenhexamid, pyraclostrobin, boscalid, cyprodinil and fludioxonil, was over 40, 1,000, 100, 700 and 50, respectively. Some strains with high resistance to anilinopyrimidines (14 %) or moderate to fludioxonil (7 %) were detected even in isolates collected from vegetable crops prior to commercial use of these fungicides in Greece. Isolates with fludioxonil moderate resistance and fenhexamid high resistance, were detected for the first time in Greece. The results suggested the high risk in chemical control of grey mould due to development of resistance to most fungicides with site-specific modes of action. Isolates with resistance to fluazinam (phenylpyridinamines) and to chlorothalonil (phthalonitriles) were not found. The inclusion of appropriate multi-site inhibitors like chlorothalonil in fungicide anti-resistance strategies was indispensable.     

Impact of fludioxonil resistance on fitness and cross-resistance profiles of Altrenaria solani laboratory mutants

Sensitivity and inherent resistance risk of Alternaria solani to fludioxonil, cross-resistance profiles and the potential implications of resistance mutations on fitness parameters were investigated. Fludioxonil was highly effective against a wild type A. solani field strain both in vitro (EC₅₀?=?0.05 μg/mL) and in preventive applications on artificially inoculated tomato fruit. Mutants with low [Resistance factor (Rf): 15 based on EC₅₀], medium (Rf: 150–300) and high (Rf: > 1000) levels of phenylpyrrole resistance were isolated from the wild type strain at high frequencies following mutagenesis with UV irradiation and selection on fludioxonil containing medium. Resistant isolates retained their resistance levels even after 9 subcultures on fungicide-free growth medium while they could express their resistant phenotypes in planta. Investigation of cross-resistance relationships showed that fludioxonil resistance mutations also reduce the sensitivity of mutant strains to the aromatic hydrocarbon fungicide quintozene as well as the dicarboximides iprodione and vinclozolin. No cross-resistance was observed between fludioxonil and fungicides with different modes of action such as the sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (DMIs) imazalil and flusilazole and the carboxamide boscalid. All fludioxonil resistant isolates were more sensitive to the anilinopyrimidine pyrimethanil, while only two isolates were less sensitive to the QoI pyraclostrobin compared to the wild-type strain. Study of fitness determining parameters showed that resistance mutation(s) had no adverse effects on mycelial growth, conidial germination and sensitivity to osmotic stress while they had a pleiotropic effect on virulence and conidia production in resistant mutants. Results of the present study indicate that fludioxonil is a highly effective fungicide against A. solani, while the risk of resistance development to this fungicide is considered to be medium making fludioxonil an ideal alternative to high risk fungicides such as boscalid and pyraclostrobin whose performance against early blight has already been compromised by resistance development.