Identification of two group A chitinase genes in Botrytis cinerea which are differentially induced by exogenous chitin

Chitin-degrading enzymes represent potential targets for pesticides in the control of plant pathogenic fungi. Here we describe the cloning, molecular characterization, and expression analysis of two putative chitinases of Botrytis cinerea, a pathogenic fungus infecting a wide range of plants. On the basis of conserved motifs from family 18 of the glycosyl hydrolases and group A of the fungal chitinases, two fragments (BcchiA and BcchiB) were cloned and sequenced. Expression of BcchiA and BcchiB chitinase genes upon growth under different conditions was analysed using RT-PCR. We observed that BcchiA expression was suppressed by glucose, whereas it was strongly stimulated in the presence of chitin or chitin degradation products. Conversely, BcchiB expression was not suppressed by glucose and was not stimulated by chitin or chitin degradation products. The difference in expression regulation is indicative of a functional divergence between the two chitinase paralogous genes.

Chitin-supplemented foliar application of chitinolytic Bacillus cereus reduces severity of Botrytis gray mold disease in chickpea under controlled conditions

AIM

To identify and evaluate chitinolytic bacteria for control of Botrytis gray mold (BGM), a devastating disease in chickpea.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Two antifungal bacterial isolates, chitinolytic Bacillus cereus CRS 7 and nonchitinolytic Pseudomonas fluorescens CRS 31, from the rhizosphere of chickpea, were applied as a prophylactic foliar spray and evaluated for control of BGM. In a controlled environment, the two isolates reduced the severity of BGM on the susceptible cv. JG 62 to 6.0 and 5.6, respectively, compared with 9.0 in the control, measured on a 1-9 rating scale. Supplementation of the foliar application of CRS 7 with 0.5% and 1.0% colloidal chitin reduced BGM severity to 4.4 and 4.1 respectively, while chitin-supplemented application of CRS 31 was similar to CRS 31 applied alone. Partially purified 47-kDa chitinase from the cell-free culture filtrate of CRS 7 at 20 and 40 mug protein ml(-1) (enzyme activity 3.1 units ml(-1)) inhibited the germination and lysed the conidia of Botrytis cinerea, and as a prophylactic foliar spray reduced BGM severity to 5.4 and 4.8, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Chitin supplementation improved the biocontrol of the foliar disease BGM by chitinolytic bacterium. Disease control with partially purified chitinase of CRS 7 supported the major role of chitinolysis in improved control of BGM.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Enhanced control of BGM by chitin-supplemented application of CRS 7 is of significant in view of the frequent inconsistency in biocontrol of foliar diseases. This study supports further attempts on chitinolysis-based biocontrol methods for foliar disease biocontrol.

Cloning and overexpression of antifungal barley chitinase gene in Escherichia coli

Plant chitinases are pathogenesis-related proteins, which are believed to be involved in plant defense responses to pathogen infection. In this study, chitinase gene from barley was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Chitinase (35 kDa) was isolated and purified. Since the protein was produced as insoluble inclusion bodies, the protein was solubilized and refolded. Purified chitinase exerted broad-spectrum antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea (blight of tobacco), Pestalotia theae (leaf spot of tea), Bipolaris oryzae (brown spot of rice), Alternaria sp. (grain discoloration of rice), Curvularia lunata (leaf spot of clover) and Rhizoctonia solani (sheath blight of rice). Due to the potential of broad-spectrum antifungal activity barley chitinase gene can be used to enhance fungal-resistance in crop plants such as rice, tobacco, tea and clover.

Comparison of composition and antifungal activity of Artemisia argyi Lévl. et Vant inflorescence essential oil extracted by hydrodistillation and supercritical carbon dioxide

Essential oil of Artemisia argyi Lévl. et Vant inflorescence was obtained by supercritical CO(2) extraction and hydrodistillation. The oil was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to characterize its components and was also tested for antifungal activity. A total of 61 compounds were identified in the hydrodistilled oil. The major components were 1,8-cineole (4.46%), borneol (3.58%), terpinol (10.18%), spathulenol (10.03%), caryophyllene oxide (6.51%), juniper camphor (8.74%), Camazulene (2.05%), and camphor (3.49%). By using supercritical CO(2) at 50 degrees C and 10 MPa, the concentrations of previous main components were lower than oil obtained by hydrodistillation, while miscellaneous compounds were higher. The essential oil extracted by these two methods exhibited antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternate, two common storage pathogens of fruits and vegetables. The inhibition of B. cinerea and A. alternate were 93.3 and 84.7% for oil extracted by hydrodistillation when exposed to a concentration of 1,000 mg L(-1), while values of 70.8 and 60.5% were observed from oil extracted by supercritical CO(2).

Antimicrobial arylcoumarins from Asphodelus microcarpus

A new aryl coumarin glucoside, asphodelin A 4'-O-beta-d-glucoside (1), and its aglycon, asphodelin A (2), were isolated from Asphodelus microcarpus. The structures were determined by detailed spectroscopic analysis and chemical transformation as 3-(2'-hydroxy-p-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyloxyphenyl)-4,7-dihydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (1) and 3-(2',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,7-dihydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (2), respectively. These compounds were isolated following bioactivity-directed fractionation, using antimicrobial activity, in which 1 and 2 exhibited moderate and potent activities, respectively. This is the first report of a 3-arylcoumarin derivative, a rare class of isoflavonoids, from a plant in the family Liliaceae.

Quantitative structure–activity relationship studies for the prediction of antifungal activity of N-arylbenzenesulfonamides against Botrytis cinerea

The Botrytis cinerea is one of the most interesting fungal pathogens. It can infect almost every plant and plant part and cause early latent infections which damage the fruit before ripening. The QSAR is an alternative method for the research of new and better fungicides against B. cinerea. This paper describes the results of applying a topological sub-structural molecular design (TOPS-MODE) approach for predicting the antifungal activity of 28 N-arylbenzenesulfonamides. The model described 86.1% of the experimental variance, with a standard deviation of 0.223. Leave-one-out and leave-group-out cross validation was carried out with the aim of evaluating the predictive power of the model. The values of their respective squared correlations coefficients were 0.754 and 0.741. The TOPS-MODE approach was compared with three other predictive models, but none of these could explain more than 72.8% of the variance with the same number of variables. In addition, this approach enabled the assessment of the contribution of different bonds to antifungal activity, thereby making the relationships between structure and biological activity more transparent. It was found that the fungicidal activity of the chemicals analyzed was increased by the presence of a sulfonamide group bonded to two aromatics rings, making this group the most important of the molecule. The majority of the substituents present in the aromatic rings have an electron withdrawing effect and they contribute to a smaller degree than the sulfonamide group to the property under study. The aromatic moiety plays an important role in this activity; its contribution changes with different substituents. Generally, the nitro group has a positive and great contribution to the biological property but when this group is involved in some compounds in ortho effect with the SO2 moiety of the sulfonamide group a lower value of contribution is observed for both groups.

Screening preharvest/postharvest strategies to prevent fruit rot decay

In fruit growing preharvest sprayings in the orchard are mainly applied to protect fruit from decaying. Next to multisite fungicides (captan, thiram, tolylfluanid) the most commonly used products recognized for the Belgium market are Bellis (pyraclostrobin & boscalid) and the combination of Topsin M (thiophanate-methyl) and Frugico (diethofencarb). In general the spraying schedule varies depending on weather conditions (infection risk), preharvest interval of available fungicides, fruitgrower and cultivar of pome fruit (apple/pear). Facing the climatological conditions before picking the residue loading on the fruit surface can differ enormously. Also wet (pre)grading is considered to decrease the product residue resulting to fruits which are less protected before entering the cold storage room. In this context a partially replacement of the preharvest treatments by one postharvest application could offer a reliable alternative to the PPP reduction program (Plant Protection Products) in the orchard. A standardized application method by dipping or drenching will cover the fruits homogenically resulting in a rationalized fungicide use compared to the preharvest sprayings in the orchard. For the Belgium market Philabuster (imazalil & pyrimethanil) is registered for postharvest treatments since for this product a proper solution for the waste water of postharvest uses was developed to protect surface waters (Funds technology). Philabuster provides an advanced mould control towards fruit rot pathogens Gloeosporium spp., Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium spp. In this context several trials were set up to evaluate the biological efficacy of Philabuster alone or in combination with preharvest sprayings in the orchard. In concrete different preharvest spraying schedules were applied in the last six weeks before harvest on apple and pear facing parameters as rational fungicide use, antifungal effectiveness and cost price. The purpose was to select the optimal combination in use of preharvest fungicides with Philabuster as postharvest treatment, which offer full protection towards all key pathogens in apple and pear.

Molecular and functional characterization of a cyclophilin with antifungal activity from Chinese cabbage

An antifungal protein that inhibits the growth of filamentous fungal pathogens was isolated from Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis) by affinity chromatography on Affi-gel blue gel and ion exchange chromatography on CM-Sepharose. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the protein was highly homologous to that of plant cyclophilins and consequently the protein was denoted as C-CyP. To understand the antifungal activity of C-CyP, we isolated a cDNA encoding its gene from a Chinese cabbage leaf cDNA library. The Chinese cabbage genome bears more than one C-CyP gene copy and C-CyP mRNA is highly expressed in all tissues except the seeds. Recombinant C-CyP catalyzed the cis-trans inter-conversion of the Ala-Pro bond of the substrate, which indicates this protein has peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity. It also inhibited the growth of several fungal pathogens.

The grapevine polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (VvPGIP1) reduces Botrytis cinerea susceptibility in transgenic tobacco and differentially inhibits fungal polygalacturonases

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) selectively inhibit polygalacturonases (PGs) secreted by invading plant pathogenic fungi. PGIPs display differential inhibition towards PGs from different fungi, also towards different isoforms of PGs originating from a specific pathogen. Recently, a PGIP-encoding gene from Vitis vinifera (Vvpgip1) was isolated and characterised. PGIP purified from grapevine was shown to inhibit crude polygalacturonase extracts from Botrytis cinerea, but this inhibitory activity has not yet been linked conclusively to the activity of the Vvpgip1 gene product. Here we use a transgenic over-expression approach to show that the PGIP encoded by the Vvpgip1 gene is active against PGs of B. cinerea and that over-expression of this gene in transgenic tobacco confers a reduced susceptibility to infection by this pathogen. A calculated reduction in disease susceptibility of 47-69% was observed for a homogeneous group of transgenic lines that was statistically clearly separated from untransformed control plants following infection with Botrytis over a 15-day-period. VvPGIP1 was subsequently purified from transgenic tobacco and used to study the specific inhibition profile of individual PGs from Botrytis and Aspergillus. The heterologously expressed and purified VvPGIP1 selectively inhibited PGs from both A. niger and B. cinerea, including BcPG1, a PG from B. cinerea that has previously been shown to be essential for virulence and symptom development. Altogether our data confirm the antifungal nature of the VvPGIP1, and the in vitro inhibition data suggest at least in part, that the VvPGIP1 contributed to the observed reduction in disease symptoms by inhibiting the macerating action of certain Botrytis PGs in planta. The ability to correlate inhibition profiles to individual PGs provides a more comprehensive analysis of PGIPs as antifungal genes with biotechnological potential, and adds to our understanding of the importance of PGIP:PG interactions during disease and symptom development in plants.

Microwave-assisted, one-pot syntheses and fungicidal activity of polyfluorinated 2-benzylthiobenzothiazoles

Polyfluorinated 2-benzylthiobenzothiazoles 3a-l are prepared via a microwave-assisted, one-pot procedure. The advantages, such as good to excellent yields, shorter reaction time (14-21min), readily available starting material, and simple purification procedure, distinguish the present protocol from other existing methods used for the synthesis of 2-benzylthiobenzothiazoles. Bioassay indicated that most of the compounds showed significant fungicidal activity against Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinereapers, and Dothiorella gregaria at a dosage of 50microg/mL. Interestingly, compared to the control of commercial fungicide, triadimefon, compound 3c exhibited much higher activities against R. solani, B. cinereapers, and D. gregaria, which showed that the polyfluorinated 2-benzylthiobenzothiazoles can be used as lead compound for developing novel fungicides.

The antifungal activity of widdrol and its biotransformation by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (penz.) Penz. & Sacc. and Botrytis cinerea Pers.: Fr

Widdrol (1) was tested against the necrotrophic plant pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. While 1 was found to be inactive against C. gloeosporioides, it showed a selective and effective control of B. cinerea, significantly inhibiting the mycelial growth of the fungus at concentrations of 100 ppm and above. In addition, the biotransformation of 1 by both fungi was studied. Incubation with C. gloeosporioides and B. cinerea afforded four and one biotransformation products (2-6), respectively. Biotransformation with C. gloeosporioides was highly regioselective, yielding for the most part oxidation products at C-10: 10-oxowiddrol (2), 10beta-hydroxywiddrol (3), 10alpha-hydroxywiddrol (4), and 14alpha-hydroxywiddrol (5). The structures of all products were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic data, including coupling constants, two-dimensional NMR analysis (heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation, and nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy), and nuclear Overhauser effect. The biotransformation products were then tested against B. cinerea and found to be inactive. These results shed further light on the structural modifications, which may be necessary to develop selective fungal control agents against B. cinerea.

Enhancement of fungicidal and insecticidal activity by reductive alkylation of chitosan

A series of N-alkyl chitosan (NAC) derivatives were synthesized using a reductive alkylation reaction to examine their fungicidal and insecticidal activity. The chemical structures were characterized by IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and the degree of substitution (DS) ranged from 0.02 to 0.37. Their fungicidal activity was evaluated against the grey mould Botrytis cinerea Pers ex Fr (Leotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) and the rice leaf blast pathogen Pyricularia grisea Sacc [Teleomorph: Magnaporthe grisea (Hebert) Barr] by a radial growth bioassay. It was of interest that most of the NAC derivatives were more active against both fungi than chitosan itself. The most active derivative was N-(2,2-diphenylethyl)chitosan with EC50 values of 0.031 and 0.23 g L(-1) against B. cinerea and P. grisea respectively. In addition, some derivatives, at higher concentrations up to 1.0 g L(-1), inhibited the mycelial growth and spore formation of P. grisea. Bioassays against larvae of the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with the NAC derivatives at a rate of 5.0 g kg(-1) in artificial diet demonstrated that N-(3-phenylbutyl)chitosan was the most active compound. In addition, N-propylchitosan, N-undecanylchitosan and N-(3-phenylpropyl)chitosan derivatives strongly inhibited larval weight gain in S. littoralis, with respective reductions of 76, 66 and 65% after 4 days of feeding on treated diet.

A class III histidine kinase acts as a novel virulence factor in Botrytis cinerea

Filamentous ascomycetes contain large numbers of histidine kinases (HK) that belong to eleven classes. Members of class III from different species were previously shown to be involved in osmoregulation and resistance to dicarboximide and phenylpyrrole fungicides. We have inactivated the gene encoding the single group III HK, BOS1, in the economically important plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea. BOS1 inactivation had pleiotropic effects on the fungus. Besides the expected osmosensitivity and resistance to fungicides, null mutants presented additional characteristics indicating that BOS1 is necessary for normal macroconidiation and full virulence. On standard culture media, null mutants very rarely formed conidiophores and those few conidiophores failed to produce conidia. This defect could be partially restored with 1 M sorbitol, suggesting that another BOS1-independent signal cascade may be involved in macroconidiation. The mutants were not found to be hypersensitive to various oxidative stresses but were more resistant to menadione. Finally, pathogenicity tests showed that bos1-null mutants were significantly reduced in the ability to infect host plants. Appressorium morphogenesis was not altered; however, in planta growth was severely reduced. To our knowledge, this is the first class III HK characterized as a pathogenicity factor in a plant-pathogenic ascomycete.

Biosynthesis of fatty acid derived aldehydes is induced upon mechanical wounding and its products show fungicidal activities in cucumber

Fatty acid 9/13-hydroperoxide lyase (9/13-HPL) in cucumber is an enzyme that can cleave either 9- or 13-hydroperoxides of polyunsaturated fatty acids to form C9- or C6-aldehydes, respectively, as products. In order to reveal the physiological function of 9/13-HPL, its expression profiles were analyzed, and it was found that 9/13-HPL expression was developmentally regulated and high in the hypocotyls, female flowers and mature fruits. However, its transcript as well as its activity was only induced by mechanical wounding in mature leaves. To analyze the biosynthesis of HPL-derived aldehydes in more detail we isolated and characterized the yet missing 9-lipoxygenase (LOX) that is mainly expressed in hypocotyls, cotyledons and flowers and that may provide HPL with fatty acid 9-hydroperoxides as substrates. As in the case with C6-aldehydes in most plant species, C9-aldehydes were also formed rapidly after disruption of the tissues. C9-aldehydes had fungicidal activities against fungal pathogens, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum. Because the concentration needed to cause toxic effect on the pathogens was almost equivalent to that found in disrupted tissues, the C9-aldehydes thus formed could be helpful to sterilize the wounds since they are less volatile in comparison to C6-aldehydes.

Antifungal activity of thiophenes from Echinops ritro

Extracts from 30 plants of the Greek flora were evaluated for their antifungal activity using direct bioautography assays with three Colletotrichum species. Among the bioactive extracts, the dichloromethane extract of the radix of Echinops ritro (Asteraceae) was the most potent. Bioassay-guided fractionation of this extract led to the isolation of eight thiophenes. Antifungal activities of isolated compounds together with a previously isolated thiophene from Echinops transiliensis were first evaluated by bioautography and subsequently evaluated in greater detail using a broth microdilution assay against plant pathogens Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum fragariae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, Phomopsis viticola, and Phomopsis obscurans. 5'-(3-Buten-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophen (1), alpha-terthienyl (2), and 2-[pent-1,3-diynyl]-5-[4-hydroxybut-1-ynyl]thiophene (5) at 3 and 30 microM were active against all three Colletotrichum species, F. oxysporum, P. viticola, and P. obscurans.

Impact of fungal drug transporters on fungicide sensitivity, multidrug resistance and virulence

Drug transporters are membrane proteins that provide protection for organisms against natural toxic products and fungicides. In plant pathogens, drug transporters function in baseline sensitivity to fungicides, multidrug resistance (MDR) and virulence on host plants. This paper describes drug transporters of the filamentous fungi Aspergillus nidulans (Eidam) Winter, Botrytis cinerea Pers and Mycosphaerella graminicola (Fückel) Schroter that function in fungicide sensitivity and resistance. The fungi possess ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters that mediate MDR to fungicides in laboratory mutants. Similar mutants are not pronounced in field resistance to most classes of fungicide but may play a role in resistance to azoles. MDR may also explain historical cases of resistance to aromatic hydrocarbon fungicides and dodine. In clinical situations, MDR development in Candida albicans (Robin) Berkhout mediated by ABC transporters in patients suffering from candidiasis is common after prolonged treatment with azoles. Factors that can explain this striking difference between agricultural and clinical situations are discussed. Attention is also paid to the risk of MDR development in plant pathogens in the future. Finally, the paper describes the impact of fungal drug transporters on drug discovery.

Determination of fungicide residues in field-grown strawberries following different fungicide strategies against gray mold (Botrytis cinerea)

In a 2 year experiment, residues in field-grown strawberries were investigated from the fungicides fenhexamid, pyrimethanil, tolylfluanid, and kresoxim-methyl resulting from different strategies, as regards the dose, number, and time of fungicide applications. Kresoxim-methyl was only used the first year and in full or no dose to control powdery mildew. In the first year, the highest concentrations analyzed were 0.66 mg kg(-1) for pyrimethanil and 0.63 mg kg(-1) for fenhexamid resulting from the use of recommended dose rates and a preharvest interval (PHI) of 10 days, thus not exceeding the Danish maximum residue limit (MRL) of 1 mg kg(-1). Tolylfluanid was used no later than 21 days before harvest, which left residue contents in the berries of 0.48 mg kg(-1), a value well below the MRL of 5 mg kg(-1). In the second year, fungicide residues found in the samples were generally lower, 0.39 and 0.03 mg kg(-1) for pyrimethanil and fenhexamid, respectively. No residues of kresoxim-methyl were found in any of the samples from the field trials, indicating that kresoxim-methyl residues had declined to a level well below the detection limit within the 28 day period between the last application and the harvest.

Modified cyclodextrins are chemically defined glucan inducers of defense responses in grapevine cell cultures

In grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), defense responses after microbial infection or treatment with elicitors involve accumulation of phytoalexins, oxidative burst, and the synthesis of pathogenesis-related proteins. Oligosaccharide fractions from fungal or algal cell walls efficiently induce the defense responses, but a detailed analysis of the elicitor-plant cell surface interaction at the molecular level is precluded by the lack of chemically pure oligosaccharide elicitors. A grapevine liquid cell culture system was used to examine the properties of cyclodextrins (CDs) as inducers of defense responses. This work shows that the chemically pure heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-betaCD caused a dramatic extracellular accumulation of the phytoalexin resveratrol and changes in peroxidase activity and isoenzymatic pattern. Other modified CDs tested on several grapevine cell lines resulted in different eliciting capacities of CDs and different sensibilities of the cell lines. The spent medium of elicited cultures was shown to disturb Botrytis cinerea growth in a plate assay.

Phytotoxicity of tolylfluanid in tomatoes

The use of Euparen Multi (tolylfluanid) for controlling Botrytis cinerea in tomatoes has been decreased the last decade for several reasons. Because of the lack of different fungicides with a good efficacy it is important that growers can use different fungicides to prevent development of resistance of Botrytis cinerea against many fungicides. Tolylfluanid has negative side effects on some insect populations that are used for biological control. It is known that Euparen Multi and Euparen can have a negative effect on some predatory mites (Schmidt and Zeller, 1998) such as Phytoseiulus persimilis and some parasitic wasps like Encarsia formosa, Eretmocerus eremicus, Diglyphus isaea and Dacnusa sibirica. Recently investigation indicates that this fungicide is harmless for the predatory bug Macrolophus caliginosus (Biobest, 2006) frequently used in the cultivation of tomatoes as a predator for whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum). To investigate if tolylfluanid has a phytotoxic effect on tomato plants an experiment was performed. Young tomato plants were used, who are more sensitive. These plants were subdivided in different groups, from which each one was sprayed with a different concentration of tolylfluanid. The highest concentrations of tolylfluanid were used to stimulate the visibility of the possible phytotoxic effects. Results of this experiment demonstrate that there wasn't a difference between the different groups that were sprayed with tolylfluanid or the control group. This indicates that tolylfluanid doesn't seem to be phytotoxic. It is also important to mention that this experiment was done in the fall when the intensity of the sunlight was decreasing. There still exists the possibility that extreme irradiation in combination with tolylfluanid can provoke a phototoxic effect on young tomato plants.

Ethylene sensing and gene activation in Botrytis cinerea: a missing link in ethylene regulation of fungus-plant interactions?

Ethylene production by infected plants is an early resistance response leading to activation of plant defense pathways. However, plant pathogens also are capable of producing ethylene, and ethylene might have an effect not only on the plant but on the pathogen as well. Therefore, ethylene may play a dual role in fungus-plant interactions by affecting the plant as well as the pathogen. To address this question, we studied the effects of ethylene on the gray mold fungus Botrytis cinerea and the disease it causes on Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Exposure of B. cinerea to ethylene inhibited mycelium growth in vitro and caused transcriptional changes in a large number of fungal genes. A screen of fungal signaling mutants revealed a Galpha null mutant (deltabcg1) which was ethylene insensitive, overproduced ethylene in vitro, and showed considerable transcriptional changes in response to ethylene compared with the wild type. Aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG)-treated, ethylene-nonproducing N. benthamiana plants developed much larger necroses than ethylene-producing plants, whereas addition of ethylene to AVG-treated leaves restricted disease spreading. Ethylene also affected fungal gene expression in planta. Expression of a putative pathogenicity fungal gene, bcspl1, was enhanced 24 h after inoculation in ethylene-producing plants but only 48 h after inoculation in ethylene-nonproducing plants. Our results show that the responses of B. cinerea to ethylene are partly mediated by a G protein signaling pathway, and that ethylene-induced plant resistance might involve effects of plant ethylene on both the plant and the fungus.

Ganodermin, an antifungal protein from fruiting bodies of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum

A 15-kDa antifungal protein, designated ganodermin, was isolated from the medical mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. The isolation procedure utilized chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Affi-gel blue gel, CM-Sepharose and Superdex 75. Ganodermin was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose and adsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel and CM-Sepharose. Ganodermin inhibited the mycelial growth of Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum and Physalospora piricola with an IC50 value of 15.2 microM, 12.4 microM and 18.1 microM, respectively. It was devoid of hemagglutinating, deoxyribonuclease, ribonuclease and protease inhibitory activities.

In vitro sensitivity of Botrytis cinerea to anthraquinone and anthrahydroquinone derivatives

The effect on mycelial growth of the fungus Botrytis cinerea of a set of structurally related tricyclic hydroquinones [9,10-dihydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-2,3,5,8-tetrahydroantracen-1(4H)-one and 9,10-dihydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-5,8-dihydroanthracen-1(4H)-one derivatives] and tricyclic quinones [4,4-dimethylanthracen-1,9,10(4H)-trione derivatives] was studied. In general, the anthraquinones presented higher activity than the anthrahydroquinones. Anthraquinone and anthrahydroquinone derivatives with methyl groups on the A ring showed higher antifungal activity than the unsubstituted ones, 4,4,6,7-tetramethyl-(4H)-anthracene-1,9,10-trione being the most active compound of this set. The presence of a polar group such as hydroxymethyl reduced the activity. The effect of two anthrahydroquinones and two anthraquinones on the conidia germination of the fungus was also determined. Anthrahydroquinones did not affect the germination. The most active compound was 4,4-dimethylanthracene-1,9,10(4H)-trione, with 100% inhibition of germination at 7 h of incubation. These results again suggest that the structure of the anthraquinones is important in exerting an antifungal effect on B. cinerea. Furthermore, possible mechanisms of action of compound 4,4-dimethylanthracene-1,9,10(4H)-trione were studied. This compound did not produce lipoperoxidation of membrane and did not induce the formation of oxygen reactive species, but it was able to permeabilize the plasmatic membrane of B. cinerea, increasing the phosphorus concentration in the intracellular medium.

Inhibition of phytopathogenic fungi by essential oil, hydrosol, ground material and extract of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) growing wild in Turkey

The antifungal activities of the essential oil, hydrosol, ground material and extract of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) on mycelial growth of Alternaria mali Roberts and Botrytis cinerea Pers. were determined. All doses of extract inhibited 100% the mycelial growth of both fungi, and exhibited a fungicidal effect. The 15% level of hydrosol and the 1.0% level of ground material had a 100% effect on B. cinerea. The other doses showed weak inhibition on mycelial growth of the fungi, and antifungal activity of the essential oil varied depending on concentrations. While the levels of essential oil show fungistatic effect, the increasing doses of hydrosol and ground material showed a fungicidal effect against B. cinerea and A. mali. While the ground material had not showed any fungicidal activity against mycelial growth of A. mali, the 1% and 1.5% levels of the ground material exhibited a fungicidal effect on B. cinerea. The results obtained from this study may contribute to the development of environmentally safer alternatives to protect the spoilage of food products from pathogenic and saprophytic fungi.

An antifungal protein from flageolet beans

A protein with antifungal and hemagglutinating activities was isolated from dried flageolet beans (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. 'Flageolet Bean'). The protein was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose but adsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel and CM-cellulose. The protein demonstrated antifungal activity against Mycophaerella arachidicola with an IC50 of 9.8 microM, but was inactive toward Fusarium oxysporum and Botrytis cinerea. Its hemagglutinating activity could not be inhibited by a variety of the sugars tested. The activity was stable up to 60 degrees C. At 70 degrees C, 75% of the hemagglutinating activity remained while no activity was discernible at and above 100 degrees C. The hemagglutinating activity was stable in the presence of a variety of monovalent, divalent and trivalent chlorides, and also when the ambient pH changed from 3 to 12. It did not exert any mitogenic activity on mouse splenocytes in vitro. Neither did it inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. It inhibited [3H-methyl]-thymidine incorporation into leukemia L1210 cells with an IC50 of about 4 microM.

Induction of resistance to gray mold with benzothiadiazole modifies amino acid profile and increases proanthocyanidins in grape: primary versus secondary metabolism

Field treatments of grapevine (cv. Merlot) with the plant activator benzothiadiazole (BTH, 0.3 mM) induced resistance against gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea. Both incidence and severity of the disease were reduced. The resistance was associated with an increase of total polyphenols in berry skins, in particular, the proanthocyanidin fraction, that increased up to 36%. The amino acid profile of leaves was also modified by treatments, particularly lysine, that augmented 4-fold. Other amino acids involved in resistance mechanisms to either biotic or abiotic stress increased as well. These results indicate that BTH treatments can be used to control gray mold, thereby limiting an excessive use of fungicides, and could be exploited to increase the content of micronutrients of high nutritional value, arising from both primary and secondary metabolisms.

Control of the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea using adipic acid monoethyl ester

The in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of adipic acid monoethyl ester (AAME) on the necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea has been studied. This chemical effectively controlled this important phytopathogen, inhibited spore germination and mycelium development at non-phytotoxic concentrations. The effectiveness of AAME treatment is concentration-dependent and influenced by pH. Spore germination in the presence of AAME is stopped at a very early stage, preventing germ tube development. In addition, cytological changes such as retraction of the conidial cytoplasm in the fungus are observed. AAME was also found to act on membrane integrity, affecting permeability without exhibiting lytic activity, as described previously for other antifungal compounds. Polyamine content in the mycelium of B. cinerea was also affected in response to AAME treatment, resulting in putrescine reduction and spermine accumulation similar to a number of antifungal agents. Microscopic observation of treated conidia after inoculation on tomato leaves suggested that inhibited spores are not able to attach to and penetrate the leaf. Finally, AAME completely suppressed the grey mould disease of tomato fruits under controlled inoculation conditions, providing evidence for its efficacy in a biological context and for the potential use of this chemical as an alternative fungicide treatment.

Antifungal effect of some spice hydrosols

The antifungal effects of rosemary, cumin, sater (savory), basil and pickling herb hydrosols were investigated against Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp tulipae, Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria citri. Hydrosols of sater and pickling herb showed the most relevant fungicidal activity.

Secondary metabolites influence Arabidopsis/Botrytis interactions: variation in host production and pathogen sensitivity

Numerous studies have suggested that plant/pathogen interactions are partially mediated via plant secondary metabolite production and corresponding pathogen tolerance. However, there are inconsistent reports on the ability of particular compounds to provide resistance to a pathogen. Most of these studies have focused on individual isolates of a given pathogen, suggesting that pathogens vary in their sensitivity to plant-produced toxins. We tested variability in virulence among pathogen isolates, and the impact on this by plant production of, and pathogen tolerance to, secondary metabolites. Botrytis cinerea isolates showed differing sensitivity to purified camalexin, and camalexin-sensitive isolates produced larger lesions on camalexin-deficient Arabidopsis genotypes than on the wild type. In contrast, the camalexin-insensitive isolate produced lesions of similar size on wild-type and camalexin-deficient Arabidopsis. Additional analysis with Arabidopsis secondary metabolite biosynthetic mutants suggests that Botrytis also has variable sensitivity to phenylpropanoids and glucosinolates. Furthermore, Botrytis infection generates a gradient of secondary metabolite responses emanating from the developing lesion, with the Botrytis isolate used determining the accumulation pattern. Collectively, our results indicate that Arabidopsis/Botrytis interactions are influenced at the metabolic level by variations in toxin production in the host and sensitivity in the pathogen.

Screening study of lead compounds for natural product-based fungicides: antifungal activity and biotransformation of 6alpha,7alpha-dihydroxy-beta-himachalene by Botrytis cinerea

Eleven beta-himachalene derivatives were tested, using the poisoning food technique, for their potential antifungal activity against the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea. Compounds 1-11 displayed moderate activity, whereas the 6,7-diol derivative (12) produced an inhibition of 91% after 6 days. The microbial transformation of 12 was investigated and yielded four new compounds hydroxylated at positions C-5 (13), C-2 (14), C-4 (15), and C-12 (16). The structures were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data including two-dimensional NMR analysis (HMQC, HMBC, nOesy) and nOes. The results obtained from biotransformation experiments shed further light on the detoxification mechanism of the phytopathogenic fungus against this compound and give an indication of the structural modifications that may be necessary if substrates of this type are to be further developed as selective fungal control agents for B. cinerea.

Antifungal activity and biotransformation of diisophorone by Botrytis cinerea

Diisophorone (1) was tested against two strains of the necrotrophic plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Fungal sensitivity varied according to the strain. B. cinera 2100 was more sensitive than B. cinereaUCA992: its mycelial growth was significantly inhibited at concentrations of 50 ppm and above. Although diisophorone (1) showed an effective control of B. cinerea, a detoxification mechanism was present. The detoxification of racemic diisophorone (1) by B. cinerea was investigated. Incubation with two strains of B. cinerea gave one and four biotransformation products (2-5), respectively. Their structures were established as the known 8beta-hydroxydiisophorone (2), 6alpha-hydroxydiisophorone (3), 6beta-hydroxydiisophorone (4) and 8beta,14beta-dihydroxydiisophorone (5) on the basis of their spectroscopic data, including two-dimensional NMR analysis [heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC), heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC), and nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY)] and an X-ray crystallographic study.

The strawberry gene Cyf1 encodes a phytocystatin with antifungal properties

An EST, encoding a strawberry phytocystatin (PhyCys) obtained from a developing fruit of Fragariaxananassa cv. Elsanta has been characterized. The corresponding gene (Cyf1) had three introns interrupting its ORF that codes for a protein (FaCPI-1) of 235 amino acid residues with a putative signal peptide of 29 residues and an estimated molecular mass for the mature protein of 23.1 kDa. This protein contains, besides a C-terminal extension, several motifs conserved in all members of the PhyCys superfamily: (i) a GG and LARFAV-like motifs towards the N-terminal part of the protein; (ii) the reactive site QVVAG, and (iii) a conserved PW, downstream of the reactive site. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses indicated that the Cyf1 gene was expressed in fully expanded leaves, in roots and in achenes, but not in the receptacle (pseudocarp) during fruit development. The recombinant FaCPI-1 protein expressed in E. coli efficiently inhibited papain (K(i) 1.9 x 10(-9) M) and less so cathepsin H (K(i) 4.7 x 10(-7) M) and cathepsin B (K(i) 3.3 x 10(-6) M), and was a good inhibitor of the in vitro growth of phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea (EC(50): 1.90 microM) and Fusarium oxysporum (EC(50): 2.28 microM).

Physicochemical properties and bioactivity of fungal chitin and chitosan

Chitinous material was extracted from mycelia of Aspergillus niger and Mucor rouxii grown in yeast peptone dextrose broth for 15 and 21 days, respectively. The extracted material was characterized for purity, degree of acetylation, and crystallinity and tested for antibacterial and eliciting properties. The maximum glucosamine level determined in the mycelium of A. niger was 11.10% dw and in the mycelium of M. rouxii was 20.13% dw. On the basis of the stepwise extraction of freeze-dried mycelia, it appeared that M. rouxii mycelia contained both chitin and chitosan, whereas A. niger contained only chitin. The yields of crude chitin from A. niger and M. rouxii were 24.01 and 13.25%, respectively, and the yield of chitosan from M. rouxii was 12.49%. Significant amounts (7.42-39.81%) of glucan were associated with chitinous compounds from both species and could not be eliminated by the extraction method used. The degrees of acetylation were determined to be 76.53 and 50.07% for chitin from A. niger and M. rouxii, respectively, and 19.5% for M. rouxii chitosan. The crystallinity of fungal chitin and chitosan was estimated to be less intense than in corresponding materials from shrimp shells. The extracted chitin and chitosan in a concentration of 0.1% reduced Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 2576 counts by 0.5-1.5 logs during a 4 day incubation in tryptic soy broth at 25 degrees C. Furthermore, all tested chitinous materials from fungal sources significantly reduced lesions caused by Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum in harvested apples.

Altered growth and polyamine catabolism following exposure of the chocolate spot pathogen Botrytis fabae to the essential oil of Ocimum basilicum

Biomass of the fungal pathogen Botrytis fabae in liquid culture amended with two chemotypes of the essential oil of basil, Ocimum basilicum, was reduced significantly at concentrations of 50 ppm or less. The methyl chavicol chemotype oil increased the activity of the polyamine biosynthetic enzyme S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC), but polyamine concentrations were not significantly altered. In contrast, the linalol chemotype oil decreased AdoMetDC activity in B. fabae, although again polyamine concentrations were not altered significantly. However activities of the polyamine catabolic enzymes diamine oxidase (DAO) and polyamine oxidase (PAO) were increased significantly in B. fabae grown in the presence of the essential oil of the two chemotypes. It is suggested that the elevated activities of DAO and PAO may be responsible, in part, for the antifungal effects of the basil oil, possibly via the generation of hydrogen peroxide and the subsequent triggering of programmed cell death.

Chemical characterization and antifungal activity of essential oil of capitula from wild Indian Tagetes patula L

The essential oil extracted by steam distillation from the capitula of Indian Tagetes patula, Asteraceae, was evaluated for its antifungal properties and analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Thirty compounds were identified, representing 89.1% of the total detected. The main components were piperitone (24.74%), piperitenone (22.93%), terpinolene (7.8%), dihydro tagetone (4.91%), cis-tagetone (4.62%), limonene (4.52%), and allo-ocimene (3.66%). The oil exerted a good antifungal activity against two phytopathogenic fungi, Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium digitatum, providing complete growth inhibition at 10 microl/ml and 1.25 microl/ml, respectively. The contribution of the two main compounds, piperitone and piperitenone, to the antifungal efficacy was also evaluated and ultrastructural modifications in mycelia were observed via electron microscopy, evidencing large alterations in hyphal morphology and a multisite mechanism of action.

Treatments with gras compounds to keep fig fruit (Ficus carica L.) quality during cold storage

The trade of fresh fig fruit is restricted by its high perishability and numerous attempts have been done to extend the postharvest life. The main difficulties can be found in the fast ripening and the easiness of pathogen spread. Although the ripening can be slowed by low storage temperatures (close to 0 degrees C) the control of pathogens remains still unsolved since no pesticide treatments are allowed. Generally Recognized As Save Compounds (G.R.A.S.) are possible candidates to fulfil this void. Sodium carbonate (SC) solutions (0.5, 1, 2 and 3%) and acetic acid (AAC) vapours (25, 50 and 100 ppm) have been used as postharvest treatments to control Botrytis cinerea on black (Craxiou de Porcu) and white (Rampelina) fig varieties. Fruit was subsequently stored at 2 or 8 degrees C and 90% relative humidity for two weeks. At the end of the experiment decay, weight loss, pH, acidity, total soluble solids and visual assessment were performed. SC treatment at 1% reduced significantly the decay while, lower and higher concentrations did not. Between the two studied varieties the lowest decay percentage (9.8%) was found for the Craxiou de Porcu. Using AAC a good efficacy was achieved only with 100 ppm, this treatment decrease to 2.4% the incidence of decay irrespective to storage temperature. Lower concentrations were lesser effective and the efficacy was strictly dependent on the storage temperature, being higher at 2 degrees C. No treatment damages were observed following SC or AAC applications. Regarding fruit weight loss all treatments did not affect this parameter that was 10.1% and 16.9% at 2 and 8 degrees C, respectively. Chemical analyses performed at the end of the storage period did not evidenced differences among the treatments and slight ones if compared to initial values. Visual score of the fruit at the end of storage evidenced a better keeping quality for Craxiou de Porcu especially when stored at 2 degrees C. Both G.R.A.S. compounds are promising, but in the reported experiments AAC was the most effective.

A new post-harvest fungicide to control fruit rot on apple and pear

PHILABUSTER is a new post-harvest fungicide developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V.. It provides an advanced mould control by post-harvest treatments of citrus and pome fruit. The product is formulated as a stable suspension concentrate intended for dilution in water before use. PHILABUSTER 400 SC contains 200 g/L imazalil and 200 g/L pyrimethanil. Both active ingredients have a different single site mode of action. Imazalil inhibits ergosterol biosynthesis (DMI), whereas pyrimethanil interferes with fungal enzyme secretion and methionine biosynthesis. Due to the combination of these low risk fungicides a good anti-resistance management can be obtained. In case of existing reduced sensitivity of a population to DMI or MBC fungicides, no cross-resistance with pyrimethanil was observed. PHILABUSTER showed good activity by post-harvest treatment against key pathogens on apple and pear Penicillium expansum (blue mold), Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) and Gloeosporium spp. (lenticel rot) in small and large scale experiments with artificial or natural infections. By dip treatment of large volumes of fruit (up to 50 tons) the depletion of both active ingredients in the treatment water was low, both when plastic or wooden bins were used. Lower dose rates resulted in an inferior and inconsistent residue level of both active ingredients on fruit. Possible advantages of post-harvest treatments versus field treatments for the control of storage diseases are discussed.

Botrytis infection warnings in strawberry: reduced enhanced chemical control

The fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of grey mould, the most important fungal fruit rot disease in strawberry in Europe. Currently disease control for grey mould is based on preventive spraying every five to seven days during flowering and harvest. Replacing preventive spraying with applications based on infection warnings can optimize performance and reduce the amount of sprays needed. Success of this approach will depend on the accuracy of the model used to predict disease outbreak. For this reason three infection models (BOTEM, BoWaS, DSS-Italy) were evaluated during the growth seasons of 2003 and 2004. The experiments included June bearing, retarded June bearing and ever bearing strawberries. In all experiments the use of infection models leaded to a reduced number of fungicide applications. However the efficacy of the different models towards the control of B. cinerea also decreased compared to the efficacy obtained with a standard 7 day schedule. Best results were obtained with BOTEM, developed by HRI (Horticultural Research International, East-Malling, UK): 17-60% reduction in fungicide use and an efficacy between 66-93 depending on the growth season, culture practice and the fungicides used. Compared with routine preventive spraying, the Botrytis fruit rot percentage is slightly higher. A higher efficacy with Botrytis infection warnings can only be obtained if infection warnings change from curative to preventive. A retroactive evaluation of a preventive warning system was included. Making use of the 48h weather forecasts supplied by the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (KMI) based on ALADIN for the region of Haspengouw, it was possible to replace 30 up to 100% of the curative application by preventive spraying depending on the experiment and the threshold set for the preventive model.

Induction of resistance to the pathogenic agent Botrytis cinerea in the cultivation of the tomato by means of the application of the protein "Harpin"(Messenger)

Harpin(Ea), an active component in Messenger, was originally isolated from the bacterial plant pathogen Erwinia amylovora based on its ability to elicit a hypersensitive response (HR). This bacterial pathogen causes "fire blight", a disease in apples and other members of the Rosaceae. Harpin(Ea) also induces resistance in a variety of plants against a wide array of pathogens. The objective of this investigation was to determine indications of resistance induction to Botrytis cinerea in the plants treated with the formulated Harpin(Ea) protein. This pathogenic agent is responsible for important economic losses in the cultivation of both greenhouse and field grown tomatoes. Plants with and without Messenger applications were inoculated with Botrytis cinerea in the same way. In addition, some plants with and without Messenger applications were not inoculated. Inoculated plants were symptomatologically checked for local and systemic symptoms. Evaluations of the number of tomatoes produced and their growth were also carried out. The results obtained demonstrate that there were active defence systems in the plant, producing a reduction in the damage caused by the pathogenic agent Botrytis cinerea. A greater growth also took place in the fruit obtained. These results show that the formulated Harpin(Ea) protein could reduce the use of chemical agents and be a new tool to serve as the basis for an Integrated Pest Management system.

Thiobutacin, a novel antifungal and antioomycete antibiotic from Lechevalieria aerocolonigenes

A novel butanoic acid, thiobutacin (1), 4-(2-aminophenyl)-4-oxo-2-methylthiobutanoic acid (C11H13NO3S), was isolated from the culture broth of a soil actinomycete, Lechevalieria aerocolonigenes strain VK-A9. The structure of thiobutacin (1) was elucidated on the basis of the extensive 2D NMR spectral data including 1H-1H COSY, HMBC, HMQC, ROESY, and NOESY. Thiobutacin (1) showed antioomycete and antifungal activity against phytopathogenic Phytophthora capsici and Botrytis cinerea and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Antifungal activity of Tagetes patula extracts on some phytopathogenic fungi: ultrastructural evidence on Pythium ultimum

Methanol extract, obtained from Tagetes patula plant, was assayed against three phytopathogenic fungi: Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium moniliforme and Pythium ultimum. The antifungal activity was tested both in the dark and in the light, using two different lighting systems. The data showed that the extract proved to have a dose-dependent activity on all the fungi with a marked difference between treatments in the light than in the dark. Good growth inhibition was observed in fungi only when these were treated with the highest dose of the extract and irradiated, whereas the same dose gave only a modest inhibition when the experiment was conducted in the dark. At 5 and 10 microg/ml in the dark, growth increased. The results indicated that the presence of a luminous source enhances the antifungal activity, with small differences between UV-A and solar spectrum light. SEM and TEM observations on Pythium ultimum revealed that the Tagetes patula extract induced alterations on cell fungal membranes with a photoactivation mechanism possibly involving the production of free radicals and leading to a premature aging of the mycelium.

Killer toxin of Pichia membranifaciens and its possible use as a biocontrol agent against grey mould disease of grapevine

The use of Pichia membranifaciens CYC 1106 killer toxin against Botrytis cinerea was investigated. This strain exerted a broad-specificity killing action against other yeasts and fungi. At pH 4, optimal killer activity was observed at temperatures up to 20 degrees C. At 25 degrees C the toxic effect was reduced to 70%. The killer activity was higher in acidic medium. Above about pH 4.5 activity decreased sharply and was barely noticeable at pH 6. The killer toxin protein from P. membranifaciens CYC 1106 was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. SDS-PAGE of the purified killer protein indicated an apparent molecular mass of 18 kDa. Killer toxin production was stimulated in the presence of non-ionic detergents. The toxin concentrations present in the supernatant during optimal production conditions exerted a fungicidal effect on a strain of B. cinerea. The symptoms of infection and grey mould observed in Vitis vinifera plants treated with B. cinerea were prevented in the presence of purified P. membranifaciens killer toxin. The results obtained suggest that P. membranifaciens CYC 1106 killer toxin is of potential use in the biocontrol of B. cinerea.

Screening study for potential lead compounds for natural product-based fungicides: I. Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of coumarins against Botrytis cinerea

An efficient, one-pot synthesis of angular and linear dihydropyranocoumarins, along with C-6 and C-8 prenylated coumarins is reported. These compounds, together with single- and furanocoumarins, were tested for their potential antifungal activity against the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea Pers ex Fr. The results show that furanocoumarins may be able to control the fungus B cinerea.

1-Phenyl-3-toluyl-4-[ortho-1′-(N-ethyl-2′-methylpropylamine)]phenylpyrazole, synthesis and evaluation of the in vitro antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum

A novel antifungal pyrazole derivative was synthesized. Designated 1-phenyl-3-toluyl-4-[ortho-1'-(N-ethyl-2'-methylpropylamine)]phenylpyrazole, the compound exerted an antifungal effect toward Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum. In fact, our results clearly show that mycelial growth and conidial germination of both fungi were blocked by the compound. Indeed, a 96-well microbioassay procedure was used for fast and easy evaluation of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). The MIC values for B. cinerea and F. oxysporum were 25 and 36 microg/ml, respectively.

Antifungal limonoids from the fruits of Khaya senegalensis

Investigation of the fruits of Khaya senegalensis resulted in the isolation of three new mexicanolide limonoids containing a rare conjugated diene lactone system named seneganolide A (1), 2-hydroxyseneganolide A (2) and 2-acetoxyseneganolide A (3). Two known limonoids, 3-deacetyl-7-deacetoxy-7-oxokhivorin (4) and methyl 6-hydroxyangolensate (5), were also found. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral methods. The antifungal activity of compounds 1, 3 and 5 was tested against the fungus Botrytis cinerea.

Synthesis and Determination of the Absolute Configuration of Fugomycin and Desoxyfugomycin: CD Spectroscopy and Fungicidal Activity of Butenolides

The dibromoalkenes (S)-3 and (R)- and (S)-4 are intermediates in the syntheses of the naturally occurring fungicidal butenolides fugomycin (1) and desoxyfugomycin (2), respectively. The stereoselective bromine-lithium exchange that leads to the carbenoid 12 and the vinyllithium reagent 17 a on the one hand, and palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of the dibromoalkene 3 and the bromolactone 22 on the other are key steps en route to the butenolides 1 and 2. The chiral building blocks (S)-3, (R)-4, and (S)-4 are readily available from (R)-isopropylideneglyceraldehyde 5, isobutyl (R)-lactate 6 a, and ethyl (S)-lactate 6 b, respectively. The synthetic procedure adopted here permits the absolute configuration of the natural products fugomycin (1) and desoxyfugomycin (2) to be assigned by comparison of their chiroptical properties with those of the synthetic products. The CD spectra of the bromolactone 22, calculated by two different density functional methods (TDDFT, DFT/MRCI), are found to be in good agreement with the measured spectra. On the basis of these calculations, the two CD bands observed could be assigned to n-pi* and pi-pi* transitions, respectively. Fugomycin (1) and the synthetic butenolide 20 displayed high fungicidal activity against botrytis in greenhouse experiments, whereas the saturated lactone 21 was practically inactive.

Screening extracts of Achyranthes japonica and Rumex crispus for activity against various plant pathogenic fungi and control of powdery mildew

Methanol extracts of fresh materials of 183 plants were screened for in vivo antifungal activity against Magnaporthe grisea, Corticium sasaki, Botrytis cinerea, Phytophthora infestans, Puccinia recondita and Erysiphe graminis f sp hordei. Among them, 33 plant extracts showed disease-control efficacy of more than 90% against at least one of six plant diseases. The methanol extracts of Achyranthes japonica (whole plant) and Rumex crispus (roots) at concentrations greater than 11 g fresh weight of plant tissue per litre of aqueous Tween 20 solution effectively controlled the development of barley powdery mildew caused by E graminis f sp hordei in an in vivo assay using plant seedlings. At a concentration of 300 g fresh weight of plant tissue per litre of Tween 20 solution, the two extracts were as efficient as the fungicide fenarimol (30 mg litre(-1)) and more active than the fungicide polyoxin B (100 and 33 mg litre(-1)) against Sphaerotheca fuliginea on cucumber plants in glasshouse trials.

Benzothiadiazole enhances resveratrol and anthocyanin biosynthesis in grapevine, meanwhile improving resistance to Botrytis cinerea

Pre-harvest multiple treatments of grapevine (cv. Merlot) with the plant activator benzothiadiazole (BTH, 0.3 mM) enhanced trans-resveratrol content in berries by about 40%. An even more striking effect was observed on anthocyanin synthesis, particularly on malvidine 3-glucoside, malvidine 3-(6-O-acetyl)glucoside and malvidine 3-(6-O-p-coumaroyl)glucoside, whose amounts were more than doubled. These data were obtained with a novel and time-saving HPLC method, set up for the simultaneous detection of stilbenes and anthocyanins, using an RF-10Axl fluorimetric detector instrument, with excitation at 330 nm and emission at 374 nm, and a SPD-Avp UV detector with absorption at 520 nm. Furthermore, BTH treatments induced systemic acquired resistance in grapevine, as assessed by inoculating clusters from treated and untreated plants with Botrytis cinerea. Disease severity, estimated according to the percentage of infected berries per cluster, was significantly reduced in grapes from BTH-treated plants. These results indicate that BTH treatments, besides improving the content of two important classes of nutraceuticals, with their well-known antioxidant, antitumoral, and phytoestrogenic activities, could be exploited in vineyard to protect grape against gray mould infection, thereby limiting an excessive use of fungicides

Actinchinin, a novel antifungal protein from the gold kiwi fruit

An antifungal protein designated actinchinin, with an N-terminal sequence different from that of the thaumatin-like antifungal protein from green kiwi fruit, was isolated from the gold kiwi fruit. The antifungal protein, unlike its counterpart from green kiwi fruit, did not exert antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, but was active against Fusarium oxysporum which was unresponsive to thaumatin-like protein from green kiwi fruit. Actinchinin was isolated using a protocol that comprised ion exchange chromatography on CM-cellulose, affinity chromatography on Affi-gel blue gel, ion exchange chromatography by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) on Mono S, and gel filtration by FPLC on Superdex 75. Actinchinin was adsorbed on CM-cellulose, Affi-gel blue gel and Mono S. It was devoid of mitogenic activity toward mouse splenocytes. In contrast to thaumatin-like protein from green kiwi fruit, actinchinin lacked HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibiting activity.