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.     

Survey of mutations of a histidine kinase gene BcOS1 in dicarboximide-resistant field isolates of Botrytis cinerea

Previously, we cloned a putative osmosensing histidine kinase gene (BcOS1) and revealed that a single amino acid substitution, isoleucine to serine at codon 365, conferred dicarboximide resistance in field isolates of Botrytis cinerea. This point mutation (type I) occurred within the restriction enzyme TaqI site of the wild-type BcOS1 gene. Thus, a procedure was developed for detecting the type I mutation of the BcOS1 gene using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in combination with restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP). Diagnosis by PCR-RFLP was conducted on the 105 isolates isolated from 26 fields in Japan. All dicarboximide-sensitive isolates (49 isolates) had the wild-type BcOS1 gene, and the 43 isolates with the type I mutation were resistant to dicarboximides without exception. These data indicate that dicarboximide-resistant isolates with type I mutation are widespread throughout Japan. However, other types of dicarboximide resistance were detected among isolates from Osaka; among the 24 resistant isolates from Osaka, 12 had the BcOS1 gene without the type I mutation. BcOS1 gene sequencing of these resistant isolates classified them into two groups, type II and type III. The type II isolates have three amino acid substitutions within BcOS1p (³⁶⁸Val to Phe, ³⁶⁹Gln to His, and ⁴⁴⁷Thr to Ser). The type III isolates have two amino acid substitutions within BcOS1p (³⁶⁹Gln to Pro and ³⁷³Asn to Ser). These amino acid changes are located on the amino acid repeat domain in BcOS1p. The three types of resistant isolates were all moderately resistant to dicarboximides without significant osmotic sensitivity, and their pathogenicity on cucumber leaves was also very similar to that of the wild-type isolate.     

Characterization of mutations in the two-component histidine kinase gene that confer fludioxonil resistance and osmotic sensitivity in the os-1 mutants of Neurospora crassa

Osmotic-sensitive (os-1) mutant alleles in Neurospora crassa exhibit resistance to dicarboximides, aromatic hydrocarbons and phenylpyrroles. We have previously reported that the os-1 mutants can be classified into two groups based on their resistance to fungicides and osmotic stress: type I, which are highly resistant to iprodione and fludioxonil but moderately sensitive to osmotic stress, and type II, which are highly sensitive to osmotic stress but moderately resistant to fungicides. To explain the mechanism of resistance to these fungicides, we cloned and sequenced the mutant os-1 genes that encode putative osmo-sensing histidine kinase. Within the os-1 gene product (Os1p), the type I strains, NM233t and Y256M209, carried a stop codon at amino acid position 308 and a frameshift at amino acid position 294, respectively. These mutation sites were located on the upstream of histidine kinase and the response regulator domains of Os1p, strongly suggesting that type I strains are null mutants. The null mutants, NM233t and Y256M209, were highly resistant to iprodione and fludioxonil; thus Os1p is essential for these fungicides to express their antifungal activity. The amino acid changes in Os1p, 625Pro from Leu, 578Val from Ala, and 580Arg from Gly were found in the type II strains, M16, M155-1 and P5990, respectively. Os1p is novel in having six tandem repeats of 90 amino acids in the N terminal. Each amino acid change of the type II strains was located on the fifth unit of six tandem repeats. Type II strains with single amino acid changes were more sensitive to osmotic stress than the null mutants (type I), indicating that the amino acid repeats of Os1p were responsible for an important function in osmo-regulation.     

樱桃采后灰霉病菌对甲基硫菌灵、乙霉威和腐霉利的抗性

本文采用单孢分离法对四川汉源和山东烟台等地采集的樱桃果实进行了采后灰霉病的病原菌分离和鉴定;采用区分剂量法分别测定了菌株对苯并咪唑类杀菌剂甲基硫菌灵、乙霉威和二甲酰亚胺类杀菌剂腐霉利的敏感性,并进一步分析了抗药性菌株的分子机制。结果表明,分离得到的54株樱桃采后灰霉病菌均为灰葡萄孢Botrytis cinerea,对甲基硫菌灵的总抗性频率高达79.6%,其中甲基硫菌灵抗性-乙霉威敏感 (BEN R1) 菌株频率为 25.9%;甲基硫菌灵-乙霉威双重抗性菌株 (BEN R2) 频率为53.7%;检测到腐霉利抗性菌株 (DCF R) 9 株,频率为16.7%。甲基硫菌灵抗性菌株在β-tubulin基因上的突变共有2种类型: BEN R1抗性菌株中,第198位密码子发生点突变 (GAG→GCG),编码氨基酸由Glu (E)突变成缬氨酸Ala (A);在BEN R2抗性菌株中,第198位密码子发生点突变 (GAG→GTG),编码氨基酸由Glu (E)突变成缬氨酸Val (V)。DCF R菌株在BcOS1的第365位密码子由ATC突变成AAC或AGC,导致编码的氨基酸由异亮氨酸Ile (I)突变成天冬酰胺Asn (N)或丝氨酸Ser (S)。本研究表明樱桃采后灰霉病菌对甲基硫菌灵和腐霉利存在不同程度抗性,应在加强抗药性监测的同时与其他类型杀菌剂交替使用,延缓抗药性发展。     

灰葡萄孢对腐霉利的抗性分子机制及快速检测技术

为明确灰葡萄孢Botrytis cinerea对腐霉利的抗性现状,于2017—2018年采用单孢分离法从浙江省5个地区的草莓大棚共分离获得200个菌株.通过区分剂量法测定了其对腐霉利的抗性,对抗药性菌株的分子机制进行了分析,并根据抗药性分子机制,建立了B.cinerea腐霉利高抗基因型的环介导等温扩增(loop-med...     

Genotyping of benzimidazole-resistant and dicarboximide-resistant mutations in Botrytis cinerea using real-time polymerase chain reaction assays

Botrytis cinerea, an economically important gray mold pathogen, frequently exhibits multiple fungicide resistance. A fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based real-time polymerase chain reaction assay has been developed to detect benzimidazole- and dicarboximide-resistant mutations. Three benzimidazole-resistant mutations-(198)Glu to Ala (E198A), F200Y, and E198K-in beta-tubulin BenA were detected using a single set of fluorescence-labeled sensor and anchor probes by melting curve analysis. Similarly, three dicarboximide-resistant mutations-I365S, V368F plus Q369H, and Q369P-in the histidine kinase BcOS1 were successfully distinguished. Unassigned melting profiles in BenA genotyping assay resulted in the identification of a new benzimidazole-resistant BenA E198V mutation. This mutation conferred resistance to carbendazim as do E198A and E198K mutations. The isolates with BenA E198V mutation showed a negative cross-resistance to diethofencarb, but to a lesser extent than the E198A mutants. A survey of 210 B. cinerea field isolates revealed that most of benzimidazole-resistant isolates possessed the E198V or E198A mutation in the BenA gene, and the I365S mutation in the BcOS1 gene was also frequently observed in Japanese isolates. However, benzimidazole-resistant isolates with BenA F200Y or E198K mutations, which confer the diethofencarb-insensitive phenotype, were rare. Our BenA and BcOS1 genotyping is a rapid and reliable method that is suitable for monitoring the fungicide-resistant field population.     

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 an Osmosensing Histidine Kinase in Field Strains of Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea) in Response to Dicarboximide Fungicide Usage

ABSTRACT DNA sequence polymorphisms in the putative two-component histidine protein kinase encoded by the Daf1 gene have been identified within a sample of 5 sensitive and 27 dicarboximide-resistant field strains of Botryotinia fuckeliana (anamorph Botrytis cinerea). The gene of 3948 bp is predicted to encode a 1315-amino acid protein comprising an N-terminal region, an amino acid repeat region, which has been hypothesized to be the binding site for dicarboximide fungicide, and a C-terminal region encompassing kinase and response regulator domains. Two amino acid variants were distinguished among the sensitive strains characterized by alanine (group 1), or threonine (group 2), at position 1259 in the C-terminal region. All resistant strains could be classified into either group 1 or group 2 but, in addition, all showed changes in the second amino acid repeat region. On the basis of the differences in this repeat region, four classes of resistant strains were recognized; class 1 characterized by an isoleucine to serine mutation, class 2 by an isoleucine to asparagine mutation, class 3 by an isoleucine to arginine mutation (all at position 365), and class 4 by an isoleucine to serine mutation (position 365) as well as a glutamine to proline mutation (position 369). All classes showed similar low levels of resistance to iprodione and to vinclozolin, except for class 3 and class 4 strains, which show low resistance to iprodione but moderate (class 3) or high (class 4) resistance to vinclozolin. The classes as a group did not differ from sensitive strains in osmotic sensitivity measured as mycelial growth response, but some class 1 strains showed an abnormal morphology on osmotically amended medium. The evolution of the amino acid differences is discussed in relation to field observations. It is proposed that class 1 and class 2 strains arose by single mutations within the sensitive population, whereas classes 3 and 4 arose by single mutations within a resistant population.     

Characterization of genetic and biochemical mechanisms of fludioxonil and pyrimethanil resistance in field isolates of Penicillium digitatum

Genetic and biochemical mechanisms of fludioxonil and pyrimethanil resistance in isolates of Penicillium digitatum were evaluated and compared to those characterized in other fungi. Resistant isolates were naturally occurring in packinghouses and were not associated with crop losses. For the phenylpyrrole fludioxonil, EC50 values were 0.02 to 0.04 microg/ml for sensitive, 0.08 to 0.65 microg/ml for moderately resistant (MR), and > 40 microg/ml for highly resistant (HR) isolates. Two fludioxonil-sensitive isolates evaluated were also significantly more sensitive to the unrelated dicarboximide fungicide iprodione, that also disrupts osmotic regulation, than the MR and HR isolates. There was no consistent relationship, however, between the HR and MR isolates and their sensitivity to iprodione or osmotic stress. Although, two nucleotide substitutions were found in a sequence analysis of the N-terminal amino acid repeat region of the os-1-related histidine kinase gene among isolates of P. digitatum, these were not correlated with fludioxonil resistance. In mycelia not exposed to fludioxonil, the amount of phosphorylated OS-2-related protein (PdOS-2) was higher in fludioxonil-sensitive isolates and lowest in the HR isolate. An increase in PdOS-2 was observed for sensitive and resistant isolates after exposure to fludioxonil. In addition, glycerol content in untreated mycelia of the fludioxonil-sensitive isolate was significantly higher than in resistant isolates. After exposure to fludioxonil, glycerol concentrations significantly increased in the sensitive and MR isolates, but not in the HR isolate. Thus, our studies indicate that the mode of action of fludioxonil in P. digitatum is probably the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway that stimulates glycerol synthesis in sensitive and MR isolates. The general suppression of this pathway in resistant isolates was supported by the fact that growth and sporulation of MR and HR isolates were significantly reduced from that of sensitive isolates. In studies on the mode of action of anilinopyrimidines (AP), EC50 values for mycelial growth of P. digitatum and the previously characterized Botrytis cinerea were determined for cyprodinil and pyrimethanil using a defined culture medium without and with the addition of selected amino acids and homocysteine. The addition of amino acids resulted in a reduced toxicity of the two AP fungicides in both fungi, but the effect of each additive was significantly lower for P. digitatum than for B. cinerea. This suggests that methionine biosynthesis is not the primary target site of APs in P. digitatum.     

Molecular characterization of boscalid resistance in field isolates of Botrytis cinerea from apple

Botrytis cinerea isolates obtained from apple orchards were screened for resistance to boscalid. Boscalid-resistant (BosR) isolates were classified into four phenotypes based on the levels of the concentration that inhibited fungal growth by 50% relative to control. Of the 220 isolates tested, 42 were resistant to boscalid, with resistant phenotypes ranging from low to very high resistance. There was cross resistance between boscalid and carboxin. Analysis of partial sequences of the iron-sulfur subunit of succinate dehydrogenase gene in B. cinerea (BcSdhB) from 13 BosR and 9 boscalid-sensitive (BosS) isolates showed that point mutations in BcSdhB leading to amino acid substitutions at the codon position 272 from histidine to either tyrosine (H272Y) or arginine (H272R) were correlated with boscalid resistance. Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of 66 BosR isolates (including 24 additional isolates obtained from decayed apple fruit) showed that 19 carried the point mutation H272Y and 46 had the point mutation H272R, but 1 BosR isolate gave no amplification product. Analysis of the BcSdhB sequence of this isolate revealed a different point mutation at codon 225, resulting in a substitution of proline (P) by phenylalanine (F) (P225F). The results indicated that H272R/Y in BcSdhB were the dominant genotypes of mutants in field BosR isolates from apple. A multiplex allele-specific PCR assay was developed to detect point mutations H272R/Y in a single PCR amplification. Levels of boscalid resistance ranged from low to very high within isolates carrying either the H272R or H272Y mutation, indicating that, among BosR isolates, different BosR phenotypes (levels of resistance) were not associated with particular types of point mutations (H272R versus H272Y) in BcSdhB. Analysis of genetic relationships between 39 BosR and 56 BosS isolates based on three microsatellite markers showed that 39 BosR isolates and 30 BosS isolates were clustered into two groups, and the third group consisted of only BosS isolates, suggesting that the development of resistance to boscalid in B. cinerea likely is not totally random, and resistant populations may come from specific genetic groups.     

浙江省果蔬灰霉病菌对嘧菌酯的抗药性研究

采用菌丝生长速率法,连续监测了2010—2012年间浙江省果蔬灰霉病菌对QoI类杀菌剂嘧菌酯的敏感性变化。 结果表明:病菌群体中的低敏感性亚群体的比例明显上升,EC50值>5 mg/L 菌株的比例分别为12.5%、15.8%和28.3%;在菌丝生长阶段和孢子萌发阶段,旁路氧化在灰霉病菌对嘧菌酯敏感性中的平均相对贡献值(F)分别为2.91±0.89和5.72±2.82;嘧菌酯抗药性菌株的菌丝生长速率、产孢量、产菌核数和致病力与敏感菌株相比无显著差异。抗药性分子机制研究表明,灰霉病菌中存在2种类型的cyt b基因:Ⅰ型cyt b基因在第143位密码子后紧跟内含子;Ⅱ型cyt b基因在第143位密码子后没有紧跟内含子。大多数的灰霉病菌菌株属于Ⅱ型。Ⅰ型菌株均为嘧菌酯敏感菌株,Ⅱ型菌株为嘧菌酯敏感菌株或抗性菌株。抗性菌株的cyt b 基因的第143位密码子由甘氨酸(GGC)突变为了丙氨酸(GCC),抗药性机制为G143A。     

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.     

灰葡萄孢抗二甲酰亚胺类杀菌剂研究进展

综述了灰葡萄孢对二甲酰亚胺类杀菌剂抗性的产生及现状,抗性菌株的生物学特性、生理生化特性以及抗药性机制,并就灰葡萄孢对二甲酰亚胺类杀菌剂抗性研究进行了展望。     

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。     

Some characteristics of Botrytis cinerea isolates tolerant to procymidone

Of 104 isolates of Botrytis cinerea collected from greenhouses in south-east Spain, 70 (67%) were tolerant to procymidone. The tolerant isolates appeared as often in greenhouses treated with dicarboximides for only 1 year as in those treated for several years, indicating a rapid development of tolerance under greenhouse conditions. Although the tolerant isolates grew more slowly on PDA than the sensitive ones, their sporulation per unit area was similar. The sporulation and the viability of conidia of tolerant isolates collected in greenhouses where dicarboximides were used for 3 years were enhanced by the presence of procymidone in the growth medium, features that may have important epidemiological implications.     

Mechanisms of resistance to fungicides in field strains of Botrytis cinerea

Field strains of Botrytis cinerea Pers ex Fr, the causal agent of grey mould diseases, were collected from French vineyards between 1993 and 2000. Several phenotypes have been characterized according to the inhibitory effects of fungicides towards germ-tube elongation and mycelial growth. Two types of benzimidazole-resistant strains (Ben R1 and Ben R2) could be detected; negative cross-resistance to phenylcarbamates (e.g. diethofencarb) was only found in Ben R1. Benzimidazole resistance was related to point mutations at codon 198 (Ben R1) or 200 (Ben R2) of the beta-tubulin gene. Most dicarboximide-resistant strains were also weakly resistant to aromatic hydrocarbon fungicides (e.g. dicloran) but remained sensitive to phenylpyrroles (e.g. fludioxonil). These resistant field strains (Imi R1) contained a single base pair mutation at position 365 in a two-component histidine kinase gene, probably involved in the fungal osmoregulation. Three anilinopyrimidine-resistant phenotypes have been identified. In the most resistant one (Ani R1), resistance was restricted to anilinopyrimidines, but no differences were observed in the amino-acid sequences of cystathionine beta-lyase (the potential target site of these fungicides) from Ani R1 or wild-type strains. In the two other phenotypes (Ani R2 and Ani R3), resistance extended to various other groups of fungicide, including dicarboximides, phenylpyrroles and sterol biosynthesis inhibitors. This multi-drug resistance was probably determined by over-production of ATP-binding cassette transporters. The hydroxyanilide fenhexamid is a novel botryticide whose primary target site is the 3-keto reductase involved in sterol C-4 demethylations. Apart from the multi-drug-resistant strain Ani R3, three other fenhexamid-resistant phenotypes have been recognized. For two of them (Hyd R1 and Hyd R2) fenhexamid-resistance seemed to result from P450-mediated detoxification. Reduced sensitivity of the target site could be the putative resistance mechanism operating in the third resistant phenotype (Hyd R3). Increased sensitivity to inhibitors of sterol 14 alpha-demethylase recorded in Hyd R1 strains was related to two amino-acid changes at positions 15 and 105 of this enzyme.     

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.     

北京地区番茄灰霉病菌的多重抗药性检测

2009年12月-2010年5月,在北京12个郊区县采集番茄病标样150份,分离纯化得到109个灰葡萄孢（Botrytis cinerea）单孢菌株,用最低抑制浓度法（MIC）测定了其对苯并咪唑类（多菌灵）、二甲酰亚胺类（腐霉利）和氨基甲酸酯类（乙霉威）杀菌剂的抗药性。结果表明：番茄灰霉病菌对多菌灵、腐霉利和乙霉威产生抗性菌株的频率分别为96.3%、80.7% 和58.7%;所测菌株对3类杀菌剂的抗性类型有BenRDicSNPCS、BenSDicSNPCR、BenRDicRNPCS和BenRDicRNPCR 4种,所占比例分别是19.3%、3.7%、21.1%和56.0%,表明北京地区番茄灰霉病菌对苯并咪唑类、二甲酰亚胺类和氨基甲酸酯类三类杀菌剂的抗药性严重,在生产中需慎用,应选择一些替代的新型杀菌剂和生物农药。     

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.     

Laccase Gene LAC1 of Colletotrichum lagenarium Is Not Essential for Melanin Biosynthesis and Pathogenicity

Laccase has been shown to oxidize 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (1,8-DHN) in the final step of melanin biosynthesis in several fungi. In this study, a laccase gene (LAC1) was cloned from Colletotrichum lagenarium that synthesizes 1,8-DHN melanin, and characterized. To clone the LAC1 sequences, genomic DNA was subject to polymerase chain reactions (PCR) with degenerate oligonucleotide primers that were designed on the basis of amino acid sequences conserved among characterized laccases from other ascomycetes Botrytis cinerea, Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus nidulans, and Cryphonectria parasiticus. The LAC1 gene contained an open reading frame composed of 589 codons and three introns of 51, 49, and 57 nucleotides. The deduced amino acid sequence of Lac1p had high similarity to that of laccase from N. crassa and significant homology with those of multicopper blue proteins. Under melanin-induced culture of this fungus, laccase activity significantly increased and LAC1 expression was also detected. However, the lac1Δ mutants retained laccase activity and had no significant phenotypic differences in melanin production or pathogenicity from the wild-type strain. Received 23 February 2001/ Accepted in revised form 29 March 2001