Role of botrydial and botcinins in the interaction between Botrytis cinerea and competing fungi

VIGNATTI, P; GONZALEZ ME; ROMERO FM; GONZÁLEZ COLLADO I; VIAUD M; LOPEZ M, TEJERA NA, PIECKENSTAIN FL, LLUCH, HERRERA-CERVERA JA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; LI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; 2015

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

Aim: To analyze the fungitoxic potential of botrydial and botcinins produced by B. cinerea and to determine if these compounds play a role in the antagonism between this phytopathogenic fungus and competing microorganisms.Methodology: Dual culture assays were used to screen a collection of microorganisms isolated from natural environments for the presence of fungi inhibited by wild-type (WT) B. cinerea. These fungi were designated as FIBBC. B. cinerea mutants unable to produce botrydial and botcinins were also analyzed for their ability to inhibit the abovementioned fungi. Botrydial and botcinins were purified from WT B. cinerea cultures and their inhibitory activity on conidia germination and germ-tube growth of FIBBC was analysed.Results: Fungal strains of the genus Trichoderma inhibited in dual cultures by WT B. cinerea were identified. B. cinerea mutants that produce no botrydial and botcinins still antagonized the abovementioned FIBBC. Botrydial and botcinins inhibited conidia germination and germ tube growth of FIBBC.Conclusion: Botrydial and botcinins are toxic to potential fungal competitors of B. cinerea. However, the relevance of each of these compounds in the inhibition activity of B. cinerea towards these fungi is difficult to be estimated on the basis of mutant analysis, probably due to functional redundancy between the different toxins.