Eugenol reduces growth and increases activity of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase in the phytopathogenic fungusBotrytis fabae

Abstract

This study was undertaken to examine the possibility that eugenol-induced reductions in growth ofBotrytis fabae are associated with alterations in polyamine metabolism.B. fabae was grown in liquid medium amended with different concentrations of eugenol. Changes in fungal biomass, and activities of enzymes of polyamine biosynthesis and catabolism were studied. An examination was also made of the incorporation of radioactivity from ornithine into polyamines. Activity of the polyamine biosynthetic enzyme S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) and flux of label from ornithine into the polyamine spermine were greatly increased inB. fabae grown in the presence of eugenol. However, no significant changes were observed in polyamine catabolism or in the concentrations of free polyamines in treated fungal tissue.