Microscopic characterization of the infectious process, ROS production,
and fungi cellular death of the Alternaria alternata on tangerine
resistant to QoIs
Abstract
Quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicide resistance in A.
alternata populations was reported in Brazil for the first time in
2019, in São Paulo orchards, and the mutation G143A in cytochrome b (
cytb) was found in resistant isolates. Our study investigated the
infectious process, production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and
fungal cell death in resistant (QoI-R) and sensitive (QoI-S)
Alternaria alternata pathotype tangerine (Aapt) isolates.
Morphological characterization of Aapt isolates was performed using
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM). Alternaria brown spot (ABS)
symptoms were produced by Aapt isolates on tangelo cv. BRS Piemonte.
Germination of QoI-R conidia and production of germ tubes on tangelo
leaflets treated with 100µg mL -1 of pyraclostrobin 18
hours after inoculation (hai) was observed using Scanning Electron
Microscopy (SEM). At the same time, QoI-S conidial germination was
inhibited on tangelo leaflets treated with pyraclostrobin. ROS
production and cell death in Aapt isolates at high fungicide
concentration were observed using CLSM. QoI-S conidia exhibited high ROS
production, indicating high oxidative stress. When dyed with Propidium
Iodate (PI), QoI-S conidia emitted red fluorescence, showing cell death
and confirming their sensitive phenotype. In contrast, QoI-R conidia
neither produced ROS nor exhibited red fluorescence, indicating no cell
death and confirming their resistant phenotype. Therefore, our findings
evidence that microscopic techniques may help characterize events during
fungi-plant interactions, ROS production, cell death, and Aapt
phenotypes resistant and sensitive to QoIs using fluorometric protocols.
Research Highlights Our findings demonstrate the infection
process, reactive oxygen species production, and cell death of Aapt
isolates resistant and sensitive to quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs).
Confocal laser scanning microscopy may help to characterize phenotypes
resistant and sensitive to QoIs using fluorometric protocols.