Abstract
Two stilbenes, resveratrol and pterostilbene, exhibit antifungal activity against Leptosphaeria maculans, the fungal pathogen responsible for blackleg (stem canker) in canola (Brassica napus). In vitro studies on the effect of these stilbenes on L. maculans mycelial growth and conidia germination showed that pterostilbene is a potent fungicide and sporicide, but resveratrol only exerted minor inhibition on L. maculans. Cell viability of hyphae cultures was markedly reduced by pterostilbene and SYTOX green staining showed that cell membrane integrity was compromised. We demonstrate that pterostilbene exerts fungicidal activity across 10 different L. maculans isolates and the compound confers protection to the blackleg-susceptible canola cv. Westar seedlings. The potential of pterostilbene as a control agent against blackleg in canola is discussed.
Highlights
Canola (Brassica napus) is an oilseed crop ranked second in worldwide oilseed production, with an estimated total global production of 72.12 million metric tons in 2014–2015 [1]
We investigated if these stilbenes possess any fungicidal or sporicidal activity against L. maculans and whether they can protect canola seedlings from blackleg infection
In the conidia germination assay, resveratrol had no significant effect (p>0.05) on the germination of L. maculans conidia at 50 μg/ml when compared to the control (Fig 2)
Summary
Canola (Brassica napus) is an oilseed crop ranked second in worldwide oilseed production (behind soybean), with an estimated total global production of 72.12 million metric tons in 2014–2015 [1]. Is found in cropping regions of North America, Europe, Asia and Australia [3, 4]. Blackleg, which is a phoma stem canker, is considered the most damaging disease to canola, being endemic to many canola-growing regions of the world [3, 5]. The most severe epidemics occur in Australia, where the disease almost wiped-out the fledgling canola industry in the early 1970s [6]. Sexual reproduction occurs on crop stubble that remains after harvest, via the production of ascospores which act as the primary inoculum. Ascospores germinate on cotyledons and leaves, and invade the plant via wounds
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