Natural Compounds That Modulate the Development of the Fungus Botrytis cinerea and Protect Solanum lycopersicum.

Esteban D Rosero-Hernández,Javier Moraga,Isidro G Collado,Fernando Echeverri

doi:10.3390/plants8050111

Esteban D Rosero-Hernández, Javier Moraga + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8050111

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Abstract

Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of gray mold disease and is responsible for the loss of millions of dollars in crops in worldwide. Currently, this pathogen exhibits increasing resistance to conventional fungicides; therefore, better control methods and novel compounds with a more specific mechanism of action but without biocidal effects, are required. In this work, several natural compounds to control B. cinerea were analyzed in vitro. Detected effects were dependent on the stage of fungus development, and 3-phenyl-1-propanol displayed the most potent inhibition of in vitro germination, germ tube development, and sporulation. However, it had lower protection of leaves and postharvest fruit in plant infection. Isoeugenol and 1-phenylethanol exhibited lower inhibition of in vitro germination and sporulation, but at the highest concentrations, they inhibited germ tube elongation. Although the lowest rates of foliage infection were recorded using isoeugenol and 3-phenyl-1-propanol, 1-phenylethanol significantly decreased the disease in postharvest tomato fruit, with an efficacy like Mancozeb, but at 18 times lower micromolar concentration. All compounds resulted in high cell viability after spores were removed from the treatment solution exhibited high cell viability, suggesting a non-biocidal effect. The diversity of in vitro and in-plant effects seems to indicate a different mechanism of action.

Highlights

The phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea, the gray mold disease (GMD) agent, is widely distributed throughout the world and infects more than 1400 different species of plants with commercial value both in the field and at the postharvest stage, such as grapes, strawberries, tomatoes, flowers, and ornamental plants, resulting in annual losses of more than 100 billion US dollars globally [1,2].In tomato greenhouse, the fungus can affect up to 70% of the plants causing a premature death [3].B. cinerea can affect tomato crops by infecting leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits through tissue penetration or wounds, and high amounts of synthetic fungicides are frequently applied
This study study wouldtoallow allow prospective molecules against tomato plant leaves postharvest fruits
IVB= 73.4 against conidial germination and germ-tube development is very relevant for its potential use in the field

Summary

Introduction

The phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea, the gray mold disease (GMD) agent, is widely distributed throughout the world and infects more than 1400 different species of plants with commercial value both in the field and at the postharvest stage, such as grapes, strawberries, tomatoes, flowers, and ornamental plants, resulting in annual losses of more than 100 billion US dollars globally [1,2]. B. cinerea can affect tomato crops by infecting leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits through tissue penetration or wounds, and high amounts of synthetic fungicides are frequently applied. The extensive and indiscriminate use of fungicides can cause harmful effects to humans and the environment [4]. The biocidal effect generates a selection pressure on the fungus, causing resistance and creating a vicious circle: supplementary fungicides to overcome resistance and higher risk to environment and human health [5]. Due to the economic importance of tomato and the Plants 2019, 8, 111; doi:10.3390/plants8050111 www.mdpi.com/journal/plants

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