A critical evaluation of the role of alternative oxidase in the performance of strobilurin and related fungicides acting at the Qo site of complex III

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.

Molecular characterization and biological response to respiration inhibitors of Pyricularia isolates from ctenanthe and rice plants

The molecular profile and the biological response of isolates of Pyricularia oryzae Cavara obtained from ctenanthe to two strobilurins (azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl) and the phenylpyridinamine fungicide fluazinam were characterized, and compared with isolates from rice plants. Five different isozymes (alpha-esterase, lactate, malate, isocitrate and sorbitol dehydrogenases) and five random decamer primers for RAPD-PCR were used to generate molecular markers. Using unweighted pair-group with arithmetic average analysis, ctenanthe isolates were found to form a separate group distinct from that of the rice isolates for both sets of markers. Amplified polymorphic sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b that were digested with Fnu4HI or StyI revealed no differences among Pyricularia isolates at amino acid positions 143 or 129 which confer resistance to strobilurins in several fungi. In absence of the alternative respiration inhibitor salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) the three fungicides showed inferior and variable efficacy, with a trend toward the rice isolate being less sensitive. The addition of SHAM enhanced the effectiveness of all fungicides against isolates regardless of their origin. Appressorium formation was the most vulnerable target of action of the respiration inhibitors and azoxystrobin the most effective. This is the first report of a comparison between the molecular profiles and sensitivities to respiration inhibitors for Pyricularia oryzae isolates from a non-gramineous host and from rice.

Effect of inhibition of the bc1 complex on gene expression profile in yeast

Because the respiratory chain is the major site of oxidation of the reduced equivalents and of energy production in aerobic cells, its inhibition has severe impact on the cells. Communication pathways from the respiratory chain are required to allow the cell to sense the defect and respond to it. In this work, we studied changes in gene expression induced by the treatment of yeast cells with myxothiazol, an inhibitor of the bc(1) complex, an enzyme of the respiratory chain. The pattern and time-course expression of the genes resemble those of the environmental stress response, a common gene expression program induced by sudden changes in the environment. In addition, the changes were, for most of the genes, mediated through the transcription factors Msn2/4, which play a central role in the cellular response to these stresses. By using a mutant with a myxothiazol-resistant bc(1) complex, we showed that the changes of expression of the majority of the genes was caused by the inhibition of the bc(1) complex but that other stresses might be involved. The expression pattern of CTT1, coding for a cytoplasmic catalase, was further studied. The expression of this gene was largely dependent on Msn2/4 and the inhibition of the cytochrome bc(1). Addition of oxidants of NADH was found to decrease the expression of CTT1 induced by myxothiazol treatment, suggesting that the accumulation of NADH caused by the inhibition of the respiratory chain may be involved in the signaling pathway from the mitochondria to the transcription factor.

A Two-Phase Resistance Response of Venturia inaequalis Populations to the QoI Fungicides Kresoxim-Methyl and Trifloxystrobin

The class of fungicides acting as respiration inhibitors by binding to the Qo center of cyto-chrome b (QoIs) are in wide use for the management of apple scab caused by Venturia inaequalis. In order to assess responses of V. inaequalis populations to treatments with QoIs, sensitivities of isolates were determined for germinating conidia or for mycelial colonies developing from germinating conidia. Under both test conditions, inhibitory potencies of kresoxim-methyl and trifloxystrobin were largely equivalent. V. inaequalis populations treated with QoIs in a commercial and an experimental orchard both responded with significant shifts toward declining QoI sensitivities. However, the population responses were quantitative in nature, and highly resistant isolates indicative of a cytochrome b target site mutation were not detected. V. inaequalis populations from both orchards investigated also were fully resistant to sterol de-methylation-inhibiting fungicides (DMIs) such as fenarimol and myclobutanil, but isolate sensitivities to QoIs and DMIs were largely unrelated. Performance tests with kresoxim-methyl and trifloxystrobin at the experimental orchard diagnosed as DMI-resistant revealed that the quantitative shift toward declining QoI sensitivities did not constitute the status of practical QoI resistance. In contrast to these quantitative responses, emergence of qualitative QoI resistance was documented for V. inaequalis in an orchard in North Germany, which had been treated intensively with a total of 25 QoI applications over four consecutive seasons. Isolates retrieved from the orchard were highly resistant to both kresoxim-methyl and trifloxystrobin and were characterized as G143A cytochrome b mutants. The results indicated that the paths of QoI resistance can be both quantitative and qualitative in nature. A similar phenomenon has not been described before. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the quantitative phase of V. inaequalis population responses to QoIs might be succeeded by a quantitative selection of highly resistant G143A target-site mutants.

Purification of the plant alternative oxidase from Arum maculatum: measurement, stability and metal requirement

We have purified plant alternative oxidase (AOX) protein from the spadices of thermogenic Arum maculatum (cuckoo pint) to virtual homogeneity. The obtained enzyme fraction exhibits a high specific activity, consuming on average 32 micromol oxygen min(-1) mg(-1), which is completely stable for at least 6 months when the sample is stored at -70 degrees C. This exceptionally stable AOX activity is inhibited approximately 90% (I(50) approximately 10 microM) by 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-OHQ) and also, although to a lesser extent, by other metal chelators such as o-phenanthroline, alpha,alpha'-dipyridyl and EDTA. When inhibited by 8-OHQ, AOX activity is fully restored upon addition of 1.2 mM ferric iron, but neither ferrous iron nor manganese has any effect, whilst zinc decreases activity even further. Furthermore, we have developed a spectrophotometric assay to measure AOX activity in an accurate manner, which will facilitate future steady state and transient kinetic studies. The reliability of this assay is evidenced by retained stability of AOX protein during the course of the reaction, reproducibility of the measured initial rates, an observed 2:1 duroquinol-oxygen stoichiometry and by the fact that, in absolute terms, the measured rates of duroquinone formation and duroquinol disappearance are identical.