Premium
A world‐wide analysis of reduced sensitivity to DMI fungicides in the banana pathogen Pseudocercospora fijiensis
Author(s) -
Chong Pablo,
Essoh Josué Ngando,
Arango Isaza Rafael E,
Keizer Paul,
Stergiopoulos Ioannis,
Seidl Michael F,
Guzman Mauricio,
Sandoval Jorge,
Verweij Paul E,
Scalliet Gabriel,
Sierotzski Helge,
Lapeyre de Bellaire Luc,
Crous Pedro W,
Carlier Jean,
Cros Sandrine,
Meijer Harold J G,
Peralta Esther Lilia,
Kema Gert H J
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.6372
Subject(s) - fungicide , propiconazole , biology , chlorothalonil , musaceae , horticulture , microbiology and biotechnology , botany
BACKGROUND Pseudocercospora fijiensis is the causal agent of the black leaf streak disease (BLSD) of banana. Bananas are important global export commodities and a major staple food. Their susceptibility to BLSD pushes disease management towards excessive fungicide use, largely relying on multisite inhibitors and sterol demethylation inhibitors (DMIs). These fungicides are ubiquitous in plant disease control, targeting the CYP51 enzyme. We examined sensitivity to DMIs in P . fijiensis field isolates collected from various major banana production zones in Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, the Philippines, Guadalupe, Martinique and Cameroon and determined the underlying genetic reasons for the observed phenotypes. RESULTS We observed a continuous range of sensitivity towards the DMI fungicides difenoconazole, epoxiconazole and propiconazole with clear cross‐sensitivity. Sequence analyses of PfCYP51 in 266 isolates showed 28 independent amino acid substitutions, nine of which correlated with reduced sensitivity to DMIs. In addition to the mutations, we observed up to six insertions in the Pfcyp51 promoter. Such promoter insertions contain repeated elements with a palindromic core and correlate with the enhanced expression of Pfcyp51 and hence with reduced DMI sensitivity. Wild‐type isolates from unsprayed bananas fields did not contain any promoter insertions. CONCLUSION The presented data significantly contribute to understanding of the evolution and global distribution of DMI resistance mechanisms in P . fijiensis field populations and facilitate the prediction of different DMI efficacy. The overall reduced DMI sensitivity calls for the deployment of a wider range of solutions for sustainable control of this major banana disease. © 2021 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.