Abstract
Melanin is one of the well-known secondary metabolite produced by fungi and other organisms which has a major role in pathogenicity. Our earlier studies established positive correlation on the production of secondary metabolites such as toxins, enzymes and melanin in relation to pathogen virulence and disease expression. In the present investigation, melanin induction as one of the factor in differentiating pathogen virulence was proved by extraction and quantification. The role of melanin in the pathogenesis of Colletotrichum falcatum has been studied in detail under the influence of melanin inhibitor, tricyclazole. Effect of tricyclazole on C. falcatum pathogenesis revealed that it is inhibitory to conidial germination, appressorium formation and its melanisation at lower concentrations. However, efficacy of tricyclazole was increased with increase in concentration in reducing C. falcatum growth, sporulation and symptom production in leaves and stalks. Finally, the presence of melanin in C. falcatum was confirmed by amplifying three melanin biosynthesis genes, viz. PKS1, SCD1 and THR1 at molecular level. The results confirm that melanin plays one of the important roles in C. falcatum pathogenesis and melanin inhibiting compounds have definite role in disease suppression by external application.
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The authors are grateful to the Director, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, for providing facilities and constant encouragement.
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This study was done as part of ICAR-SBI fund.
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Kaverinathan, K., Scindiya, M., Malathi, P. et al. Role of Melanin in Colletotrichum falcatum Pathogenesis Causing Sugarcane Red Rot. Sugar Tech 19, 584–591 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-017-0519-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-017-0519-5