Fungicide resistance in Czech populations of cucurbit powdery mildews

A total of 108 isolates of cucurbit powdery mildew (CPM) fungi, 78Golovinomyces cichoracearum (Gc) and 30Podosphaera xanthii (Px), originating from nine Czech regions and 22 districts of the Czech Republic were collected in the years 2001–2004. These isolates were screened for tolerance and/or resistance to the three frequently used fungicides (fenarimol, dinocap, benomyl). Fungicide sensitivity was determined by a modified leaf-disc bioassay with five concentrations. Fungicide efficacy differed significantly: fenarimol was the most effective and all isolates of both CPM were controlled by the recommended concentration (36μg a.i. ml⁻¹). Some isolates expressed resistance (profuse sporulation) or tolerance (limited sporulation) to lower concentrations (9.6 and 18μg a.i. ml⁻¹). Specific temporal variation in tolerance/resistance was observed, with some isolates ofGc from 2002 evincing tolerant or resistant reactions to these low fenarimol concentrations, but isolates with similar reactions were not detected during the years 2003–2004. Dinocap showed decreasing efficacy during all 3 years. A shift to more tolerant reactions in the CPM populations was detected forGc in 2001–2002, and forPx in 2001 and 2004. Benomyl was found to be ineffective, because the majority of screened isolates (88%Gc and 97%Px) belonged to the highly resistant strains, with resistant reaction on the recommended concentration (250μg a.i. ml⁻¹) and tolerance or resistance on higher concentrations (500 and 1000μg a.i. ml⁻¹). Sensitivity differed between the CPM species. Whereas practically allPx isolates (except one from 2003) were resistant, 12% ofGc isolates from the years 2001–2003 showed sensitive and/or tolerant reactions. In 2004, only benomyl-resistantGc strains were detected. Variation in tolerance/resistance was detected to all screened fungicides during the course of this study at some repeatedly sampled locations. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting June 12, 2008.     

Stepwise development of laboratory resistance to DMI-fungicides in Penicillium italicum

Isolates ofPenicillium italicum with differential levels of resistance to imazalil were obtained via step-wise mass selection of conidia of the fenarimol-resistant isolate E300-3 on imazalilamended PDA. Three out of five selection steps were successful. The resistance level to imazalil of isolates acquired after the two last selection steps was on average 122 and 197. The differential level of resistance was also apparent in decay control on oranges by imazalil inoculated with the various isolates. The isolates showed a similar cross-resistance pattern to other fungicides which inhibit C-14 demethylation of sterols (DMIs), although the level of resistance to these fungicides was significantly higher. All isolates displayed negatively-correlated cross-resistance to tridemorph and dodine. Most isolates had a normal virulence on oranges. In competition experiments with mixed-inocula of the wild-type and a resistant isolate, the proportion of the wild-type increased in successive generations on untreated oranges and the proportion of the resistant isolate increased on imazalil-treated oranges. The lower competitive ability of the resistant isolate on untreated oranges may be due to a decrease in spore production as compared with the wild-type.Since isolate E300-3 was obtained in two selection steps on fenarimol-amended PDA, the isolates obtained in the last selection steps on imazalil-amended PDA may have at least five different genes for resistance to DMIs. This is consistent with resistance to DMIs being under polygenic control, with the genes involved having an additive interaction, although this is not the only possible explanation of the results.