Effects of acivicin on growth, mycotoxin production and virulence of phytopathogenic fungi. (19th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maeda, K.; Nakajima, Y.; Motoyama, T.; Kitou, Y.; Kosaki, T.; Saito, T.; Nishiuchi, T.; Kanamaru, K.; Osada, H.; Kobayashi, T.; Kimura, M.
• Is Part Of: Letters in applied microbiology. Volume 59:Number 4(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 377
• Page End: 383
• Publication Date: 2014-06-19
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 660.62
• DOI: 10.1111/lam.12289
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-8254

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="lam12289-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="lam12289-sec-1001" sec-type="section"> <p>Acivicin is an inhibitor of <italic>γ</italic>‐glutamyl transpeptidase and glutamine amidotransferase. When grown on a synthetic minimal agar medium, acivicin strongly inhibited the growth of <italic>Magnaporthe oryzae</italic> and <italic>Alternaria brassicicola</italic>, and to a lesser extent, <italic>Botrytis cinerea</italic>. However, only partial or marginal growth inhibition was observed with regard to <italic>Fusarium sporotrichioides</italic> and <italic>Fusarium graminearum</italic>. The growth retardation caused by acivicin was significantly alleviated by cultivating the fungus on a nutrient‐rich medium. The inhibition of <italic>M. oryzae</italic> growth caused by 1 <italic>μ</italic>mol l<sup>−1</sup> of acivicin on minimal agar medium was subdued by the addition of specific single amino acids, including His, a branched‐chain amino acid (Leu, Ile or Val), an aromatic amino acid (Trp, Tyr or Phe), Met or Gln, at a concentration of 0·4 mmol l<sup>−1</sup>. Trichothecene production by <italic>F. graminearum</italic> in trichothecene‐inducing liquid medium was reduced significantly in the presence of acivicin despite its inability to inhibit growth in the trichothecene‐inducing liquid medium. Foliar application of conidia in the presence of acivicin reduced the severity of rice blast disease caused by <italic>M. oryzae</italic>. These results suggest the usefulness of this modified amino acid natural product to mitigate agricultural problems caused by some phytopathogenic fungi.</p> </sec> <sec id="lam12289-sec-1002" sec-type="section"> <title>Significance and Impact of the Study</title> <p>Fusarium head blight or scab disease and rice blast, caused by <italic>Fusarium graminearum</italic> and <italic>Magnaporthe oryzae</italic>, respectively, are major diseases of cereal crops that cause a significant loss of yield and deterioration in the quality of the grain. The present study investigated the effects of acivicin, a glutamine amino acid analog, on the physiology of various phytopathogenic fungi. Application of acivicin to a fungal culture and conidial suspension reduced mycotoxin production by the wheat scab fungus and the severity of rice blast, respectively. These results suggest the possibility that acivicin may serve as a lead compound to develop agricultural chemicals for the control of some plant diseases. </p> </sec> </abstract>