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Control of the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea using adipic acid monoethyl ester

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from Plan Nacional I+D (AGL2003-08481), from Plan 2004 de promoción a la investigación UJI and Conselleria de Empresa, Universidad y Ciencia, Generalitat Valenciana GRUPOS04/029. M.O.L is the recipient of long-term predoctoral fellowship from grant AGL2003-08481. G.A. was supported by a grant (CTBFIS/2005/095) Beca de Formacion del Personal Técnico de Ayuda a la Investigación de la Generalitat Valenciana. The authors are grateful to Pilar Troncho and Sergio Alamar for technical assistance. We thank Dra. Brigitte Mauch-Mani for their critical review of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fisiología Vegetal, Departamento de Ciencias Experimentales, Campus Riu Sec E.S.T.C.E, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 , Castellón, Spain

    Begonya Vicedo, Víctor Flors, Gemma del Amo & Pilar García-Agustín

  2. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular , Universidad de Valencia, IATA (CSIC), Polígono de la Coma s/n Paterna, Polígono de la Coma s/n Paterna, 46980 , Valencia, Spain

    María de la O Leyva, Ivan Finiti & Carmen González-Bosch

  3. Crop and Soil Research Group, SAC King’s Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK

    Dale Walters

  4. Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Valencia, Dr Moliner 50, Burjassot, 46100, Valencia, Spain

    Maria Dolores Real

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  1. Begonya Vicedo
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  2. María de la O Leyva
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Correspondence to Carmen González-Bosch.

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Vicedo, B., Leyva, M.d.l.O., Flors, V. et al. Control of the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea using adipic acid monoethyl ester. Arch Microbiol 184, 316–326 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-005-0048-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-005-0048-6

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