Genetic mechanism, baseline sensitivity and risk of resistance to oxathiapiprolin in oomycetes.

BACKGROUND: Oxathiapiprolin is a piperidinyl thiazole isoxazoline fungicide discovered by DuPont and commercialized by Corteva Agriscience. It acts by inhibiting a novel fungal target, an oxysterol binding protein (OSBP), and is intrinsically highly active against oomycetes including grape downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) and potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans). Because the fungicide acts at a single site there is a need to determine the risk of resistance development. RESULTS: Oxathiapiprolin controlled European Plasmopara viticola and Phytophthora infestans isolates at very low concentrations with half maximal effective concentration (EC50 ) values ranging from 0.001 to 0.0264 mg L-1 and 0.001 to 0.03 mg L-1 , respectively. Laboratory mutagenesis studies performed with Phytophthora capsici using ultraviolet (UV) irradiation generated mutants with reduced sensitivity to oxathiapiprolin. All resistant mutants had a base pair change in the OSBP gene that resulted in an amino acid change. Most common substitutions were S768Y, G770V, G839W and L863W. Isolates of Plasmopara viticola and Phytophthora infestans with reduced sensitivity were also detected in field trial sites where oxathiapiprolin had been applied repeatedly each season over several consecutive years. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of oxathiapiprolin resistance development in Plasmopara viticola and Phytophthora infestans is medium to high and strict resistance management measures are required. Over-exposure of target populations to single-site fungicides during product development should be avoided.

Disease Control Attributes of Oxathiapiprolin Fungicides for Management of Cucurbit Downy Mildew.

Oxathiapiprolin, a novel oomycete fungicide recently registered by DuPont, was reported to have high intrinsic activity against cucurbit downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis). The goal of this study was to characterize disease control attributes of oxathiapiprolin-based fungicides critical to effective management of cucurbit downy mildew. In growth chamber and greenhouse studies, oxathiapiprolin-based fungicides were compared with mandipropamid, mefenoxam + mancozeb, fluopicolide + propamocarb, cymoxanil + mancozeb, and ametoctradin + dimethomorph products for pre- and postinfection activity, local systemic movement, and protection of new growth produced after fungicide application. In preventive application, oxathiapiprolin-based fungicides significantly (P < 0.0001) inhibited downy mildew development, with the highest level of disease observed being 0.4% compared with 86.7% observed for mandipropamid. When applied postinfection, oxathiapiprolin-based fungicides significantly (P < 0.0001) suppressed disease development, but disease control was reduced relative to that observed for preventive application. There was a significant effect of formulation on the postinfection activity of oxathiapiprolin, whereby the oil dispersion (OD) formulation was more inhibitory than the water-dispersible granule formulation (0.001 ≤ P ≤ 0.049). Disease severity on the outer half leaf portion protected from spray deposition during fungicide application was lower for oxathiapiprolin-based fungicides (1.6 to 6.6%) than observed for fluopicolide + propamocarb (10.9 to 23.7%), mefenoxam + mancozeb (40.3 to 51.4%), and the nontreated controls (83.3 to 84.9%), which indicates significant acropetal movement within the leaf. Postinfection applications of oxathiapiprolin-based formulations had the greatest effect on lesion growth and sporangia production compared with the other fungicides in the experiment. When applied preventively to rapidly growing plants in a greenhouse, oxathiapiprolin-based fungicides consistently protected new growth that was not present at the time of application, with the OD formulation reducing disease severity by >75% relative to nontreated plants. The practical implications of these observations are discussed.

Baseline sensitivity to proquinazid in Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici and Erysiphe necator and cross-resistance with other fungicides.

BACKGROUND: Proquinazid is a new quinazolinone fungicide from DuPont registered in most European countries for powdery mildew control in cereals and vines. The aim of this paper is to present baseline sensitivity data in populations of Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici EM Marchal and Erysiphe necator (Schw) Burr as well as results from cross-resistance studies with other fungicides. RESULTS: Proquinazid exhibited a high intrinsic activity on B. graminis f. sp. tritici isolates at rates ranging from 0.000078 to 0.02 mg L(-1). Erysiphe necator isolates were comparatively less sensitive to proquinazid, with EC(50) values ranging from 0.001 to 0.3 mg L(-1). Proquinazid controlled equally well B. graminis f. sp. tritici isolates sensitive and resistant or less sensitive to tebuconazole, fenpropimorph, fenpropidin, cyprodinil and kresoxim-methyl. A positive correlation (r = 0.617) between quinoxyfen and proquinazid sensitivities was found among 51 B. graminis f. sp. tritici isolates. Quinoxyfen-resistant B. graminis f. sp. tritici isolates were slightly less sensitive to proquinazid than the quinoxyfen-sensitive isolates; however, proquinazid remained much more active than quinoxyfen on these isolates. A stronger sensitivity relationship (r = 0.874) between proquinazid and quinoxyfen was found among 65 E. necator isolates tested in a leaf disc assay. The sensitivity values for proquinazid were significantly lower than those for quinoxyfen, confirming the higher intrinsic activity of proquinazid on both pathogens. CONCLUSION: Given the history of resistance development in powdery mildew and the observed sensitivity relationship with quinoxyfen, specifically in E. necator, we conclude that the risk of resistance developing to proquinazid might be influenced by the use of quinoxyfen. Based on these results, the authors recommend that proquinazid and quinoxyfen be managed together for resistance management.

Effect of dose rate and mixtures of fungicides on selection for QoI resistance in populations of Plasmopara viticola.

Resistance to QoI fungicides (strobilurins, famoxadone and fenamidone) in populations of Plasmopara viticola (Berk & Curt) Berlese & de Toni developed soon after their introduction in France and Italy. Current resistance management strategies include limitation of the number of applications, use of mixtures and alternation of fungicides with different modes of action. The selection pressure resulting from QoI fungicides applied alone or in mixtures with non-QoI fungicides was investigated in whole plant experiments under controlled conditions. QoI-resistant populations of P. viticola gradually reverted to full sensitivity following consecutive transfers to untreated plants, suggesting that resistant phenotypes were less competitive than sensitive ones. When cycled on QoI-treated plants, reduction in sensitivity was greater for the QoI fungicide which had greater intrinsic activity on P. viticola. Sensitivity decreased at each subsequent cycle, resulting in almost full resistance after four generations. Mixture experiments indicated that selection pressure was affected most by the dose of the QoI fungicide and the nature of the partner fungicide. Folpet delayed selection pressure most effectively when it was associated with famoxadone or azoxystrobin. Mancozeb was least effective at reducing the rate of selection compared with the QoI alone, and fosetyl-aluminium was intermediate. Higher rates of selection were recorded when the dose of the QoI fungicide, solo or in a mixture, was increased from 1 to 4 microg ml(-1). Increasing the dose of the non-QoI partner fungicide in the mixture from 10 to 30 microg ml(-1) resulted in reduced selection pressure. These results suggest that the choice of the fungicide partner and its dosage in the mixture can significantly affect the success of QoI resistance management strategies under practical conditions.