Antifungal activity and possible mechanism of Streptomyces nojiriensis 9-13 against Mycogone sp., causing wet bubble disease on Agaricus bisporus.

Wet bubble disease (WBD) in Agaricus bisporus caused by Mycogone species imposes a substantial economic loss to mushroom production in China. Currently, fungicide application is the main method to control WBD. However, excessive use of fungicide is challenged by the appearance of resistance and food safety. Therefore, it is necessary to explore safe and efficient strategies to control WBD. Strain 9-13, isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Taxus chinensis, showed strong inhibitory activity against three Mycogone species. According to morphological and biochemical characteristics, and multilocus phylogenetic analysis, the strain was identified as Streptomyces nojiriensis. In addition, strain 9-13 extracts significantly inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination of M. perniciosa, M. rosea and M. xinjiangensis in vitro. Strain 9-13 and its extracts also exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal activities against 12 selected plant pathogenic fungi. Scanning electron microscopic observations showed that extracts destroyed mycelial structure, inducing mycelia to twist and shrink. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy revealed that extracts resulted in severe plasmolysis, rupture of cell membrane and a decrease in cell inclusions, and the cell wall appeared a rough and uneven surface. Notably, the extracts obviously reduced disease severity and incidence of WBD by from 83.85% to 87.32% in fruiting bodies and 77.36% in mushroom beds, and maintained fruiting time and color on harvested mushroom. Collectively, these results clearly indicate that S. nojiriensis 9-13 is a promising biocontrol agent to control WBD on A. bisporus.

Resistance risk and resistance-related point mutations in cytochrome b of florylpicoxamid in Colletotrichum scovillei.

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum scovillei is one of the most destructive diseases of chili worldwide. Florylpicoxamid is a new quinone inside inhibitor (QiI) fungicide, which shows intensively inhibitory activity against C. scovillei. Currently, florylpicoxamid is in the registration process to control chili anthracnose in China. This study investigated the risk of resistance and resistance genetic mechanism of C. scovillei to florylpicoxamid. Baseline sensitivity of 141C. scovillei isolates to florylpicoxamid was established with an average EC50 value of 0.2328 ± 0.0876 µg/mL. A total of seven stable florylpicoxamid-resistant mutants were obtained with resistance factors ranging from 41 to 276. The mutants showed similar or weaker traits in mycelial growth, sporulation, conidial germination and pathogenicity than their parental isolates. Generally, the resistance risk of C. scovillei to florylpicoxamid would be moderate. In addition, there was no cross-resistance between florylpicoxamid and the commercially available fungicides tested. A37V and S207L mutations in the cytochrome b protein were detected in four high-resistance and three moderate-resistance mutants, respectively, of which, S207L is a new mutation. Molecular docking showed that the two mutations conferred different resistance levels to florylpicoxamid. These results provide a new perspective for QiI fungicide-resistance mechanism and may help in the reasonable use of florylpicoxamid against chili anthracnose in the future.

Analysis of the Difenoconazole-Resistance Risk and Its Molecular Basis in Colletotrichum truncatum from Soybean.

Anthracnose disease, caused by Colletotrichum truncatum, is a destructive fungal disease in soybean worldwide, and some demethylation inhibitor fungicides are used to manage it. In this study, the sensitivity of C. truncatum to difenoconazole was determined, and the risk for resistance development of C. truncatum to difenoconazole was also assessed. The results showed that the mean EC50 value was 0.9313 µg/ml, and the frequency of sensitivity formed a unimodal distribution. Six stable mutants with a mutation frequency of 8.33 × 10-5 were generated, and resistance factors ranged from 3.00 to 5.81 after 10 successive culture transfers. All mutants exhibited fitness penalties in reduced mycelial growth rate, sporulation, and pathogenicity, except for the Ct2-3-5 mutant. Positive cross-resistance was observed between difenoconazole and propiconazole but not between difenoconazole and prochloraz, pyraclostrobin, or fluazinam. One point mutation I463V in CYP51A was found in five resistant mutants. Surprisingly, the homologous I463V mutation has not been observed in other plant pathogens. CYP51A and CYP51B expression increased slightly in the resistant mutants as compared to wild-types when exposed to difenoconazole but not in the CtR61-2-3f and CtR61-2-4a mutants. In general, a new point mutation, I463V in CYP51A, could be associated with low resistance to difenoconazole in C. truncatum. In the greenhouse assay, control efficacy of difenoconazole on both parental isolates and the mutants increased in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, the resistance risk of C. truncatum to difenoconazole is regarded to be low to moderate, suggesting that difenoconazole can still be reasonably used to control soybean anthracnose.

Three Mycogone Species, Including a New Species, Cause Wet Bubble Disease of Agaricus bisporus in China.

White button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach, is the most extensively cultivated and edible mushroom worldwide. The production of A. bisporus is commonly affected by wet bubble disease (WBD), imposing a significant economic burden in China. Although studies have shown that this disease is caused by fungi of the Mycogone genus, the pathogen has not been fully characterized. In this study, 802 samples of diseased fruiting bodies of A. bisporus were collected from nine major mushroom-cultivating provinces in China, yielding a total of 586 Mycogone isolates. The morphologic characteristics of these isolates were observed and compared, and multilocus phylogenetic analyses (internal transcribed spacer [ITS], ACT, TEF1-α, TUB, RPB2, and large ribosomal subunit [LSU]) were performed on the selected representative isolates. Three Mycogone species were identified: a new species, M. xinjiangensis; M. perniciosa; and M. rosea. Mycogone rosea was the first ever reported in China. Furthermore, M. rosea was found to be the most prevalent species (54.95% of all isolates) in all the sampled areas, except in Hubei and Xinjiang, followed by M. perniciosa (39.93%) and M. xinjiangensis (5.12%). Pathogenicity tests on the fruiting body and mushroom bed substantiated Koch's postulates by the development of mildly different symptoms after inoculation with each species. This study, therefore, enhances our knowledge of the species associated with WBD in A. bisporus and provides useful insights for preventing WBD and allied diseases.

Evaluating the Sensitivities and Efficacies of Fungicides with Different Modes of Action Against Phomopsis asparagi.

Asparagus stem blight caused by Phomopsis asparagi is a major hindrance to asparagus production worldwide. Currently, fungicides are used to manage the disease in commercial production, but resistance to common fungicides has emerged in the wild population. In the present study, 132 isolates of P. asparagi collected from different provinces in China were tested for sensitivities to pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, and fluazinam. We also determined the efficacies of six fungicides against P. asparagi. The frequency distributions of EC50 values of the isolates tested were unimodal, but the curves for pyraclostrobin and tebuconazole had long right-hand tails. The mean EC50 values for pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, and fluazinam were 0.0426 ± 0.0029, 0.6041 ± 0.0416, and 0.0314 ± 0.0013 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, the EC50 values for pyraclostrobin were very similar with or without salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM), 20 µg/ml, indicating that SHAM is not needed to determine the sensitivity of P. asparagi to pyraclostrobin when using the mycelial growth inhibition assay. In greenhouse assays, Merivon (42.4% fluxapyroxad plus pyraclostrobin SC), Frown-cide (500 g/liter fluazinam SC), Cabrio (250 g/liter pyraclostrobin EC), and Nativo (75% trifloxystrobin plus tebuconazole WG) showed excellent preventive efficacy against P. asparagi. And these fungicides were more effective before inoculation than when they were applied after inoculation (P < 0.05). Therefore, these fungicides should be applied prior to infection to control stem blight. In field trials, Frown-cide, Merivon, Nativo, and Cabrio also performed good control effects, ranging from 75.2 to 86.0% in 2017 and 75.4 to 87.1% in 2018. We demonstrated that Frown-cide, Merivon, Nativo, and Cabrio had considerable potential to manage asparagus stem blight. In addition, rotations of these fungicides are essential for precluding or delaying the development of resistance and for controlling the disease.

Characterization of Natural Isolates of Bipolaris maydis Associated with Mating Types, Genetic Diversity, and Pathogenicity in Fujian Province, China.

Due to the natural destructiveness and persistence of the southern corn leaf blight (SCLB) fungus Bipolaris maydis (Nisikado et Miyake) Shoem, the characterization of B. maydis field isolates is essential to guide the rational distribution of resistant materials in corn-growing regions. In the present study, 102 field isolates collected from seven locations covering the entire region of Fujian Province, China, were assessed for mating type distribution, genetic diversity, and pathogenicity toward local sweet corn cultivars. Mating type detection via polymerase chain reaction indicated that 36.3 and 63.7% of isolates were MAT1-1 and MAT1-2, respectively; more than 80% of these isolates were confirmed using cross assays with known mating type isolates. Thirteen intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers within and among two mating type populations revealed a high level of DNA polymorphism for all combined isolates and between MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 populations. The MAT1-2 population was more diverse based on DNA polymorphism than the MAT1-1 population. The value of GST was 0.0070, ranging from 0.0399 to 0.3044 based on analysis of combined isolates and individual regional populations, respectively, suggesting the presence of genetic differentiation in the two mating type populations from different locations. Pathogenicity assays revealed that both MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 populations were pathogenic to all 11 local sweet corn cultivars tested in this study. The potential of sexual reproduction, existence of genetic diversity in the two mating type populations, and pathogenicity suggest that B. maydis populations have independently clonally adapted under natural field conditions during corn cultivation.

Pseudoperonospora cubensis in China: Its sensitivity to and control by oxathiapiprolin.

The novel fungicide oxathiapiprolin has potential for the control of downy mildew of cucumber, which is caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis. In this study, an in vitro bioassay with detached leaves was used to determine the baseline sensitivity to oxathiapiprolin for 77 Ps. cubensis isolates from 11 provinces in China. The baseline sensitivity curve was continuous, and the average EC50 value was 2.23 × 10-4 µg ml-1. In field trials, the control of downy mildew of cucumber was greater with oxathiapiprolin at 20 or 30 g a.i. ha-1 than with dimethomorph at 262.5 g a.i. ha-1. Oxathiapiprolin was taken up by cucumber roots and transported upwards to stems and leaves. The full length of PscORP1, the gene that encodes the target protein of oxathiapiprolin in Ps. cubensis, was sequenced for the first time. Our results suggested that oxathiapiprolin will be an excellent alternative fungicide for control of cucumber downy mildew. However, as Ps. cubensis is a high-risk pathogen, resistance development to oxathiapiprolin should be monitored and managed.

Analysis of the prochloraz-Mn resistance risk and its molecular basis in Mycogone rosea from Agaricus bisporus.

BACKGROUND: Wet bubble disease (WBD), caused by Mycogone rosea, is one of the most serious diseases of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) in China. Prochloraz-Mn is the main fungicide used in the management of WBD. To provide essential references for early warning of prochloraz-Mn resistance and management of WBD, this study was performed to assess the resistance risk to prochloraz-Mn in M. rosea, as well as its underlying resistance mechanism. RESULTS: Eight stable prochloraz-Mn-resistant mutants with a mutation frequency of 1.3 × 10-4 were generated and resistance factors ranged from 2.57 to 7.80 after 10 successive culture transfers. All eight resistant mutants exhibited fitness penalties in decreased sporulation and pathogenicity. Positive cross-resistance was observed between prochloraz-Mn and prochloraz or imazalil, but not between prochloraz-Mn and diniconazole, fenbuconazole, thiabendazole or picoxystrobin. The point mutation F511I in MrCYP51 protein was found in six mutants and the point mutation G464S occurred only in the SDW2-2-1M mutant. The up-regulated expression of MrCYP51 in all mutants was less than that in their parental isolates when exposed to prochloraz-Mn. Without prochloraz-Mn treatment, MrCYP51 expression was up-regulated in GX203-3-1M and FJ58-2-1M mutants, whereas it was down-regulated in other mutants compared to their respective parental isolates. CONCLUSION: Genotypes with two separate point mutations, F511I and G464S in MrCYP51, may be associated with resistance to prochloraz-Mn in M. rosea. The resistance risk of M. rosea to prochloraz-Mn is likely to be low to moderate, indicating that prochloraz-Mn can still be used reasonably to control WBD. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

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Root exudates of banana resistant variety ('Nantianhuang') and susceptible variety ('Guijiao No. 6') to Fusarium wilt were collected in vitro by bathing root system to examine the biological effects of root exudates from banana varieties on Fusaiurm oxysporum f. sp. cubense and Bacillus subtilis. We explored the effects of root exudates of different banana varieties on the abundance of soil microorganisms and the growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense and B. subtilis. The results showed that root exudates from resistant variety could significantly reduce the abundance of soil fungi and inhibit the spore germination of F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense. Root exudates from susceptible variety could significantly stimulate mycelia growth and spores germination, whereas root exudates from the tested banana varieties could significantly increase the growth and biofilm formation of B. subtilis. By dealing with the root exudates of resistant and susceptible varieties, the growth rate of mycelia were 11.28 and 12.28 mm·d-1, and the germination rate of spores were 34.6% and 79.5%, respectively. After culturing for 12 h, the growth rates of B. subtilis (OD600) were 1.27 and 1.14, and the biofilm formation (OD570) were 1.11 and 1.30 after static culturing 72 h, respectively. There were significant differences between the values of resistant and susceptible varieties. The colonization amount of B. subtilis in the rhizosphere of susceptible variety was significantly higher than that of resistant variety. The contents of free amino acids and organic acid in root exudates of the resistant variety were higher than that of susceptible variety. The content ratio of acetic acid and proline in the root exudates of resistant variety were 3.7 times and 2.4 times of that of susceptible variety. In conclusion, root exudates of banana resistant variety could inhibit the growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense. Root exudates from susceptible variety could promote the growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense,while that from the tested banana varieties could all significantly enhance growth, biofilm formation and colonization ability of B. subtilis.

Activity of the novel fungicide oxathiapiprolin against plant-pathogenic oomycetes.

BACKGROUND: Oxathiapiprolin was the first of the piperidinyl thiazole isoxazoline class of fungicides to be discovered and developed by DuPont in 2007. Although oxathiapiprolin has been reported to have high activity against plant-pathogenic oomycetes, such as Peronospora belbahrii, Phytophthora nicotianae and Ph. capsici, little is known about its effectiveness against other plant-pathogenic oomycetes and its protective and curative properties. RESULTS: Oxathiapiprolin exhibited substantial inhibitory activity against all of the plant-pathogenic oomycetes tested, with EC90 values ranging from 0.14 to 3.36 × 10(-3) µg mL(-1) , except the Pythium species Py. aphanidermatum and Py. deliense. Furthermore, doses as low as 10 µg mL(-1) were found to inhibit zoospore release and motility in Ph. capsici, while the mycelial development and sporangial production of Pseudoperonospora cubensis were restrained by an EC50 of 3.10 × 10(-4) and 5.17 × 10(-4) µg mL(-1) respectively. It was also found that oxathiapiprolin exhibited both protective and curative activity against the development of Ph. capsici infection in pepper plants under greenhouse conditions and in field tests. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the novel fungicide oxathiapiprolin exhibits strong inhibitory activity against a range of agriculturally important plant-pathogenic oomycetes, including Phytophthora spp., Peronophythora litchii, Plasmopara viticola, Pe. parasitica, Ps. cubensis and Py. ultimum. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.