Fungicide Resistance in Cercospora kikuchii, a Soybean Pathogen

Abstract

Isolates of Cercospora kikuchii, a soybean (Glycine max) pathogen causing Cercospora leaf blight and purple seed stain, were tested to determine baseline sensitivities (n = 50) to selected quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides by conducting radial growth assays on fungicide-amended media. Baseline effective fungicide concentration to inhibit 50% of fungal radial growth (EC50) values were compared with EC50 values for isolates collected in 2011 (n = 50), 2012 (n = 50), and 2013 (n = 36) throughout soybean-producing areas in Louisiana. Median EC50 values for isolates subjected to QoI fungicides were significantly (P = 0.05) higher across all 3 years. Cross-resistance to QoI fungicides was observed in resistant isolates collected in 2011 to 2013. Discriminatory doses were developed for QoI fungicides to distinguish between sensitive and resistant isolates. On average, 89% of all isolates screened in 2011 to 2013 were resistant to QoI fungicides. At a discriminatory dose of thiophanate methyl (TM), a methyl benzimidazole carbamate (MBC) fungicide, at 5 μg/ml, resistance was detected in the 2000, 2011, 2012, and 2013 collections at 23, 38, 29, and 36%, respectively. Isolates exhibiting multiple resistance to QoI fungicides and TM also were detected in 2011, 2012, and 2013 at frequencies of 34, 26, and 31%, respectively. Based on these results, Cercospora leaf blight management strategies in Louisiana using solo applications of QoI or MBC fungicides in soybean should be reconsidered.