Fitness Attributes of Pythium aphanidermatum with Dual Resistance to Mefenoxam and Fenamidone

Abstract

Pythium aphanidermatum is the predominant species causing Pythium root rot on commercially grown poinsettias in North Carolina. Resistance to mefenoxam is common in populations of P. aphanidermatum but resistance to fenamidone and other quinone outside inhibitor fungicides has only just been reported in greenhouse floriculture crops. The in vitro sensitivity to the label rate of mefenoxam (17.6 μl active ingredient [a.i.]/ml) and fenamidone (488 μl a.i./ml) was determined for 96 isolates of P. aphanidermatum. Isolates were assigned to four fungicide phenotypes: mefenoxam-sensitive/fenamidone-sensitive (MefS, FenS), mefenoxam-sensitive/fenamidone-insensitive (MefS, FenR), mefenoxam-insensitive/fenamidone-sensitive (MefR, FenS), and mefenoxam-insensitive/fenamidone-insensitive (MefR, FenR). In all, 58% of isolates were insensitive to one (MefR, FenS = 36% and MefS, FenR = 16%) or both fungicides (MefR, FenR = 6%). A single point mutation in the cytochrome b gene (G143A) was identified in fenamidone-insensitive isolates. Mycelial growth rate at three temperatures (20, 25, and 30°C), in vitro oospore production, and aggressiveness on poinsettia were evaluated to assess relative fitness of sensitive and insensitive isolates. Isolates with dual insensitivity to mefenoxam and fenamidone had reduced radial hyphal growth at 30°C and produced fewer oospores than isolates sensitive to one or both fungicides. Isolates sensitive to both fungicides produced greater numbers of oospores. Aggressiveness on poinsettia varied by isolate but fungicide phenotype was not a good predictor of aggressiveness. These results suggest that populations of P. aphanidermatum with dual resistance to mefenoxam and fenamidone may be less fit than sensitive populations under our imposed experimental conditions but populations of P. aphanidermatum should continue to be monitored in poinsettia production systems for mefenoxam and fenamidone insensitivity.