Furthermore these data suggest that NIV isolates combine this adaptation to oxidative stress with a proliferated virulence [20]. The application of fungicides as Obeticholic possible external triggers for thrichothecene biosynthesis remains a controversial issue. Several authors have described that sublethal concentrations of fungicides trigger thrichothecene biosynthesis [21–23]. Others report opposite results [24, 25]. The objective of Selleck Daporinad the present work, was to investigate the influence of three fungicides i.e. prothioconazole (a triazole fungicide), azoxystrobin (a strobilurin fungicide) and prothioconazole + fluoxastrobin, applied at sub lethal concentrations on DON

production by F. graminearum. Triazoles are known inhibitors of the ergosterol biosynthesis in fungi while strobilurin fungicides inhibit mitochondrial electron transport by binding the Qo site of cytochrome bc1 complex. Where the effectiveness of triazole fungicides against Fusarium

spp. is a certainty, the activity of strobilurins against Fusarium spp. is doubtable. The hypothesis of a fungicide-induced oxidative stress response as a trigger for DON biosynthesis was evaluated by a combined approach of H2O2 measurements and application of the H2O2 scavenger enzyme catalase. Finally, the work was validated on a laboratory scale in an in vivo assay using wheat plants. The present work clearly demonstrates the risks of reduced fungicide doses with respect to DON accumulation. old Results Effectiveness of fungicides to inhibit conidial germination and to reduce fungal ACP-196 cell line biomass Strobilurins and triazoles are among the most frequently used fungicides to respectively control M. nivale and F. graminearum. Nevertheless, application of these chemicals is often suboptimal due to the short vulnerable period of the pathogen in the field (during anthesis of the host), and environmental factors such as rain and wind. To determine

if suboptimal fungicide treatments influence germination of F. graminearum conidia and DON production, an in vitro assay was set up using a dilution series of azoxystrobin, prothioconazole and fluoxastrobin + prothioconazole. Azoxystrobin did not influence the F. graminearum conidial germination at any of the given time points in a concentration-dependent way (Figure 1C). In contrast, prothioconazole effectively inhibited conidial germination at field dose and in dilutions 1/10 and 1/100 but did not have a significant effect at lower doses at time point 48 h (Figure 1B). At time intervals 4 h and 24 h, intermediate concentrations caused a temporary delay in germination. Finally the combination of prothioconazole and fluoxastrobin exhibited fungicidal activity at field concentration and inhibited germination in dilutions 1/100 and 1/100 and displayed no or very little effect in dilution 1/1000 (Figure 1A).