Assessing the effectiveness of oxathiapiprolin towards Phytophthora agathidicida, the causal agent of kauri dieback disease

Randy F Lacey, Michael J Fairhurst, Kaitlyn J Daley, Te Amohaere Ngata-Aerengamate, Haileigh R Patterson, Wayne M Patrick, Monica L Gerth
2021 FEMS Microbes  
Phytophthora species cause disease and devastation of plants in ecological and horticultural settings worldwide. A recently identified species, P. agathidicida, infects and ultimately kills the treasured kauri trees (Agathis australis) that are endemic to New Zealand. Currently there are few options for managing kauri dieback disease. In this study, we sought to assess the toxicity of the oomycide oxathiapiprolin against several life cycle stages of two geographically distinct P. agathidicida
more » ... olates. The effective concentration to inhibit 50% of mycelial growth (EC50) was determined to be approximately 0.1 ng/ml, indicating that P. agathidicida mycelia are more sensitive to oxathiapiprolin than those from most other Phytophthora species that have been studied. Oxathiapiprolin was also highly effective at inhibiting the germination of zoospores (EC50 = 2–9 ng/ml for the two isolates) and oospores (complete inhibition at 100 ng/ml). In addition, oxathiapiprolin delayed the onset of detached kauri leaf infection in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, the results presented here highlight the significant potential of oxathiapiprolin as a tool to aid in the control of kauri dieback disease.
doi:10.1093/femsmc/xtab016 fatcat:2ho64sgcjfgali4zdxyzjmll2q