Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is a phytopathogenic fungus that causes large crop and post-harvest losses. Therefore, new and effective strategies are needed to control the disease and to reduce resistance to fungicides. Modulating pathogenicity and virulence by manipulating microbial communication is a promising strategy. This communication mechanism, called Quorum Sensing (QS), has already been reported in bacteria and yeasts; however, it has not yet been studied in B. cinerea. To establish the existence of this biochemical process in B. cinerea, we prepared extracts at different growth times (D1-D12), which were applied to fresh cultures of the same fungi. The chemical analysis of the extracts obtained from several fermentations showed different compositions and biological activities. We confirmed the presence of several phytotoxins, as well as compounds 1-phenylethanol and 3-phenylpropanol. Day five extract (0.1%) inhibited conidia germination and elongation of germ tubes, day seven extract (1%) produced the greatest phytotoxic effect in tomato leaves, and day nine extract (0.1%) was a sporulation inhibitor. In contrast, the extracts from days 7, 9, and 12 of fermentation (0.1% and 0.01%) promoted pellet and biofilm formation. Sporulation was slightly induced at 0.01%, while at 0.1% there was a great inhibition. At the highest extract concentrations, a biocidal effect was detected, but at the lowest, we observed a QS-like effect, regulating processes such as filamentation, morphogenesis, and pathogenesis. These results of the biological activity and composition of extracts suggest the existence of a QS-like mechanism in B. cinerea, which could lead to new non-biocidal alternatives for its control through interference in the pathogenicity and virulence mechanisms of the fungi.
Highlights
IntroductionOne of the most studied mechanisms of microbial communication is quorum sensing (QS), widely seen in bacteria and some yeasts and filamentous fungi
Botrytis cinerea is a phytopathogenic fungus that parasitizes many commercial and nutritionally valuable plant species; for this reason, it is considered one of the most harmful fungi in the field [1,2,3].Various fungicides are used for its control, but their effectiveness has been reduced by microbial resistance, and along with increased production costs, they generate chemical residues that threaten human and animal health, as well as the environment [4].One of the most studied mechanisms of microbial communication is quorum sensing (QS), widely seen in bacteria and some yeasts and filamentous fungi
To detect some of the most representative metabolites of B. cinerea and was classified as phytotoxins as well the as most representative of B. cinereainand wasand classified as phytotoxins as well as molecules molecules reported asmetabolites being QS modulators fungi yeast [6]
Summary
One of the most studied mechanisms of microbial communication is quorum sensing (QS), widely seen in bacteria and some yeasts and filamentous fungi. Through this pathway, the expressions of genes are coordinated by synthesizing diffusible self-inducing chemical signals [5]. The expressions of genes are coordinated by synthesizing diffusible self-inducing chemical signals [5] This process aims to induce pathogenicity and virulence, which are initially expressed by increasing mobility, the synthesis of toxins, exopolysaccharides, surfactants, and extracellular enzymes, and, the formation of biofilms [6,7]. Molecules such as farnesol, tyrosol, and phenylethanol, among others, were reported to be auto-inducing molecules of QS [8]
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