Evidence that ethirimol may interfere with adenine metabolism during primary infection of barley powdery mildew

Abstract

Ethirimol, a hydroxypyrimidine fungicide active against powdery mildews only, inhibited the formation of appressoria during primary infection of barley powdery mildew, Erysiphe graminis f.sp hordei. It also affected other stages of mildew development. Several adenine analogs had similar effects and ethirimol-resistant mildew strains were generally cross-resistant to these. Adenine and adenosine reduced the fungitoxicity of ethirimol. During the formation of appressoria [ 3H]adenine was incorporated into RNA but [ 14C]glycine was not, suggesting that purine biosynthesis did not occur. Ethirimol inhibited this RNA synthesis and it is concluded that the fungicide may interfere with adenine metabolism at some site subsequent to its synthesis.