Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicide resistance prevention strategy

R.M. Beresford
Plant & Food Research, Private Bag 92169, Auckland 1142, New Zealand

(Produced August 2011)

A new fungicide resistance management strategy for apple black spot (Venturia inaequalis) has been put in place and supersedes the individual Mode of Action strategies shown elsewhere on this site for apple black spot in pipfruit.

The new strategy is available here.

Introduction

The guidelines presented here are designed to avoid or delay the development of resistance in plant pathogens in New Zealand to fungicides that are in the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) activity group. The guidelines have been developed by the New Zealand Committee on Pesticide Resistance (NZCPR) (Beresford et al. 2009) in consultation with the New Zealand Association for Animal Health and Crop Protection (AGCARM). They are based on recommendations from the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC), who base their resistance prevention guidelines on laboratory and field resistance instances to SDHI fungicides worldwide. Guidelines for specific New Zealand crops are similar to FRAC guidelines and take into account aspects of local cropping practices and disease epidemiology considered to be important by the NZCPR.

Product perspective

SDHI fungicides are derived from a diverse range of chemistry and, depending on the host and pathogen, have protectant, translaminar or systemic activity. They have been given the FRAC activity group code number 7 (NZPPS 2009) and comprise seven chemical groups including phenyl-benzamides and pyridinyl-ethyl-benzamides as well as furan-, oxathiin-, thiazole-, pyrazole- and pyridine-carboxamides. Eight active ingredients from four of these chemical classes are currently registered or undergoing development in New Zealand (Table 1). SDHI fungicides speci?cally inhibit fungal respiration by blocking the ubiquinone-binding sites in the mitochondrial complex II (Avenot & Michailides 2010). Generation I SDHIs, including carboxin and oxycarboxin, have been used internationally since the late 1960s and are highly effective against basidiomycete pathogens such as rusts or Rhizoctonia sp. The newer generation II SDHIs, such as boscalid, fluxapyroxad, penthiopyrad, isopyrazam and fluopyram, have a spectrum of activity against a broader range of fungal pathogens of various crops (Avenot & Michailides 2010). Generation II SDHIs are intended for use in integrated disease management programmes, or as mixing or alternation partners to prevent fungicide resistance. Fungicides from this class are effective against various diseases of cereals, grape, stonefruit, strawberry, kiwifruit, apple and cucurbit (Table 2).

Table 1: Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicides marketed or in development in New Zealand.
Chemical groupCommon nameTrade name
Oxathiin-carboxamide carboxin Vitaflo® 200
Pyridine-carboxamide boscalid Pristine®, Collis®
Pyrazole-carboxamide bixafen Aviator® Xpro
  fluxapyroxad Systiva®, Adexar®, Sercadis®, Merivon®
  isopyrazam Seguris Flexi®
  penthiopyrad Fontellis®
  benzoviniflupyr Elatus® Plus
N-methoxy-(phenyl-ethyl)-pyrazole-carboxamides pydiflumetofen Mirivas®
Pyridinyl-ethyl-benzamide fluopyram Luna® Devotion, Luna® Sensation, Luna® Privilage, Raxil® Star
Table 2: Pathogens and crops targeted by succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicides in New Zealand.
PathogenDiseaseCrop
Puccinia hordei Brown rust Barley
Pyrenophora teres Net blotch Barley
Ramularia collo-cygni Ramularia leaf and awn spot Barley
Rhynchosporium secalis Scald Barley
Puccinia recondita Leaf rust Wheat
Puccinia striiformis Stripe rust Wheat 
Mycosphaerella graminicola Speckled leaf blotch Wheat
Venturia inaequalis Black spot (scab) Apple
Podoshaera leucotricha Powdery mildew Apple 
Botrytis cinerea Dry eye rot Apple 
Venturia pyrina Black spot (scab) Pear
Puccinia graminis Stem rust Ryegrass seed crops
Puccinia coronata Crown rust Ryegrass seed crops
Botrytis cinerea Botrytis bunch rot (grey mould) Grapes
Erysiphe necator Powdery mildew Grapes 
Monilinia fructicola Blossom blight/brown rot Stonefruit
Botrytis cinerea Grey mould Stonefruit
Didymella bryoniae Gummy stem blight Squash and pumpkin
Sphaerotheca fuliginea,
syn. Podosphaera xanthii and Erysiphe cichoracearum
Powdery mildew Squash and pumpkin
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Sclerotinia blossom and fruit rot Kiwifruit
Sclerotium cepivorum White rot Onion

Current status of SDHI resistance

The FRAC website lists the SDHI fungicides as medium to high risk of selecting for resistance in fungal pathogen populations based primarily on single-site mutations of the gene encoding the target succinate dehydrogenase enzyme. Reported resistance has been limited to the generation I fungicide carboxin as well as to the generation II SDHI boscalid. Table 3 summarises the reported resistance determined through laboratory studies and Table 4 summarises instances of field resistance.

Higher frequencies of boscalid resistant isolates of Alternaria alternata were recovered from pistachio orchards that had been treated with repeated applications of the pre-mixed fungicide Pristine® (boscalid + pyraclostrobin) (Avenot & Michailides 2010). High frequencies of boscalid resistance were also reported in isolates of the gummy stem blight pathogen, Didymella bryoniae, in watermelon field plots treated with boscalid. Repeated applications of boscalid also led to the recovery of resistant isolates of Botrytis cinerea from vineyards across Europe (Stammler et al. 2007) and boscalid-resistant isolates of Corynespora cassiicola in cucumber greenhouses in Japan (Miyamoto et al. 2009).

In laboratory screenings, all A. alternata isolates that were resistant to boscalid were found to be resistant also to penthiopyrad (pyrazole) and fluopyram (benzamide), two generation II SDHI fungicides that have shown broad-spectrum activity against filamentous fungi. Similarly, boscalid-resistant isolates of D. bryoniae were also insensitive to penthiopyrad (Avenot & Michailides 2010).

Table 3: Reported laboratory resistance to the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicide, carboxin.
OrganismReference
Ustilago maydis Keon et al. 1991; Broomfield & Hargreaves 1992
Mycosphaerella graminicola Skinner et al. 1998
Pleurotus ostreatus Honda et al. 2000
Aspergillus oryzae Shima et al. 2011
Coprinus cinereus Ito et al. 2004

FRAC WebsiteÈ

Table 4: Reported field resistance to the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicides carboxin and boscalid.
Crop and locationDiseaseReference
Kiwifruit, grape, strawberry, apple (Greece) Botrytis fruit rot (Botrytis cinerea) Bardas et al. 2010; Stammler et al. 2007; Kim & Xiao 2009
Pistachio (California, USA) Alternaria blight (Alternaria alternata) Avenot & Michailides 2007
Cucumber (Japan) Corynespora leaf spot (Corynespora cassiicola) Miyamoto et al. 2009
Watermelon (Georgia, USA) Gummy stem blight (Didymella bryoniae) Stevenson et al. 2008
Cucurbits (New York and Georgia, USA) Cucurbit powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) McGrath 2008; Miazzi & McGrath 2008
Wheat (Europe) Speckled leaf blotch (Zymoseptoria tritici) FRAC Website
Barley (Europe) Net blotch (Pyrenophora teres) Stammler et al. 2014
Apples (Europe) Black spot (Venturia inaequalis)  FRAC Website

Resistance prevention strategy

General guidelines

All SDHI fungicide active ingredients (Table 1) are in the same cross-resistance group. Effective disease management is essential to delay the build-up of resistant pathogen strains and should combine use of appropriate fungicides with cultural control methods. Apply products containing SDHI fungicides at effective rates, intervals and crop stages according to manufacturers’ recommendations. The number of applications of products containing SDHI fungicides must be limited according to the guidelines below for specific crops. Maximum numbers of SDHI applications apply to the crop, not to individual target diseases. Where mixtures (tank mix or co-formulation) or alternation are required, the partner fungicide should be capable of providing satisfactory control of the target disease when used alone, and must be from a different activity group (i.e. not Group 7). Refer to manufacturers' recommendations for rates of partner fungicides. SDHI fungicides should be used preventatively and not curatively, when the amount of disease is low, but disease risk is high. Do not use SDHI fungicides when disease is well established.

Cereals

Use a maximum of two applications of products containing SDHI fungicide per crop. SDHI fungicides must be applied in mixture with a fungicide of a different group. Do not use SDHI fungicides in repeated applications at reduced rates as this increases the risk of selecting resistance in pathogen populations.

Foliar Applications

SDHI fungicides must be applied in mixture with a fungicide of a different group (eg triazole) with efficacy against the target disease.  Use a maximum of two applications of products containing SDHI fungicide per crop (see also seed treatment applications below).  Apply the SDHI fungicide preventively or as early as possible in the disease cycle.  Do not rely only on the curative potential of SDHI fungicides.  Apply SDHI fungicide based products at label rates and intervals according to manufacturers’ recommendations.

Seed Treatment Applications

Seed treatment products which are selective by rate or efficacy against seed/soil borne diseases or low risk foliar pathogens do not count as one of the two SDHI applications.  Seed treatment products which provide control of foliar diseases classified as moderate/high resistance risk e.g. Scald, Net blotch, Speckled leaf blotch or Powdery mildew do count as one of the two SDHI applications.

Ryegrass seed crops

Use a maximum of two applications of products containing SDHI fungicide per crop. SDHI fungicides must be applied either in strict alternation or in mixture.

Squash and pumpkin

Use a maximum of two applications of products containing SDHI fungicide per crop, preferably in mixture. If used alone, apply SDHI fungicides in strict alternation with effective fungicides from a different activity group.

Stonefruit

Use a maximum of three applications of products containing SDHI fungicide per season, preferably in mixture. If used alone, apply SDHI fungicides in strict alternation with effective fungicides from a different activity group. If used in mixture, do not make more than two consecutive applications of products containing a SDHI fungicide. Use of SDHI fungicides should be restricted to a single stage of crop development. Use during the flowering period and do not use near harvest time.

Grape

Use a maximum of two applications of products containing SDHI fungicide per season, preferably in mixture. If used alone, apply SDHI fungicides in strict alternation with effective fungicides from a different activity group. When targeted specifically against botrytis bunch rot (grey mould, B. cinerea), the maximum numbers of applications of SDHI fungicides are given in Table 5. These maxima apply to all diseases of grapes and must not be exceeded when targeting powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator).

Table 5: Recommended maximum number of applications per season of products containing succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides against botrytis bunch rot (grey mould, Botrytis cinerea) in grapes in relation to the total number of applications per season.
Total no. B. cinerea spray applications per season12345 or more
Maximum number of solo SDHI applications1 1 1 1 2 2
Maximum number of SDHI applications in mixture 1 1 2 2 2

1Where two applications of SDHI fungicides are made alone, they must not be consecutive and the alternate fungicide application(s) must be capable of providing effective suppression of B. cinerea.

Apple and pear

Apply a maximum of three SDHI containing sprays per season. A maximum of four SDHI fungicide applications may be used where 12 or more applications are made per season. SDHI fungicides should preferably be applied in mixture. If used alone, apply SDHI fungicides in strict alternation with effective fungicides from a different activity group. Apply a maximum of two consecutive SDHI fungicide sprays. Under high disease pressure the spray interval should not exceed 7-10 days.

Kiwifruit

Use a maximum of two SDHI containing fungicides per year over all diseases, preferably in mixture. If used alone, apply SDHI fungicides in strict alternation with fungicides in a different activity group. Use of SDHI fungicides should be restricted to a single stage of crop development. Use during the flowering period and do not use near harvest time.

Other crops

Use a maximum of three SDHI containing fungicides per year over all diseases, preferably in mixture. If used alone, apply SDHI fungicides in strict alternation with fungicides in a different activity group.

Resistance prevention strategy implementation

These resistance prevention and management guidelines should be implemented for all products containing a SDHI fungicide by including a statement on the product label under the heading "Resistance Prevention". This should include the statement "This product contains a GROUP 7 (SDHI) fungicide that is at risk from resistance development. Do not use in conjunction with other products containing a GROUP 7 (SDHI) fungicide when adhering to the fungicide mixture and alternation guidelines for the specific crops below." The general guidelines and appropriate crop-specific guidelines for Group 7 fungicide applications should then follow.

Acknowledgements

This resistance management strategy was prepared by Alistair McKay, Grant Hagerty, George Follas, Max Moore, Mark Christie and Rob Beresford.

Reference

Avenot HF, Michailides TJ 2007. Resistance to boscalid fungicide in Alternaria alternata isolates from pistachio in California. Plant Disease 91: 1345-1350.

Avenot HF, Michailides TJ 2010. Progress in understanding molecular mechanisms and evolution of resistance to succinate dehydrogenase inhibiting (SDHI) fungicides in phytopathogenic fungi. Crop Protection 29: 643-651.

Bardas GA, Veloukas T, Koutita O, Karaoglanidis GS 2010. Multiple resistance of Botrytis cinerea from kiwifruit to SDHIs, QoIs and fungicides of other chemical groups. Pest Management Science 66: 967-973.

Beresford RM, Follas GB, Hagerty GC, Harrington KC, Martin NA 2009. The New Zealand Committee on Pesticide Resistance (NZCPR). New Zealand Plant Protection 62: 393-394.

Broomfield PLE, Hargreaves JA 1992. A single amino-acid change in the iron-sulphur protein subunit of succinate dehydrogenase confers resistance to carboxin in Ustilago maydis. Current Genetics 22: 117-121.

Honda Y, Matsuyama T, Irie T, Watanabe T, Kuwahara M 2000. Carboxin resistance transformation of the Homobasidiomycete fungus Pleurotus ostreatus. Current Genetics 37: 209-212.

Ito Y, Muraguchi H, Seshime Y, Oita S, Yanagi SO 2004. Flutolanil and carboxin resistance in Coprinus cinereus conferred by a mutation in the cytochrome b. Molecular Genetics and Genomics 272: 328-335.

Keon JPR, White GA, Hargreaves JA 1991. Isolation, characterization and sequence of a gene conferring resistance to the systemic fungicide carboxin from the maize smut pathogen, Ustilago maydis. Current Genetics 19: 475-481.

Kim YK, Xiao CL 2009. Resistance to pyraclostrobin and boscalid in Botrytis cinerea populations from apple in Washington State. Phytopathology 99: S62 (abstract only).

McGrath MT 2008. Fungicide sensitivity in Podosphaera xanthii and efficacy for cucurbit powdery mildew in NY USA in 2003-2006. Journal of Plant Pathology 90: S2 (abstract only).

Miazzi M, McGrath MT 2008. Sensitivity of Podosphaera xanthii to registered fungicides and experimental in GA and NY, USA, in 2007. Journal of Plant Pathology 90: S2 (abstract only)

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Corynespora cassiicola isolates resistant to boscalid on cucumber in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Plant Pathology 58: 1144-1151.

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Shima Y, Ito Y, Hatabayashi H, Koma A, Yabe K 2011. Five carboxin-resistant mutants exhibited various responses to carboxin and related fungicides. Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry 75: 181-184.

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