Sensitivity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum to fludioxonil: In vitro determination of baseline sensitivity and resistance risk

This work determined the sensitivity of field populations of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary before exposure to the fungicide fludioxonil (= baseline sensitivity) and assessed the risk of fludioxonil resistance. The mean EC50 (Effective Concentration) and Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for fludioxonil based on inhibition of mycelial growth of 120 wild-type isolates were 0.015 ± 0.005 μg/ml and <0.05 μg/ml, respectively. Positive cross-resistance was not detected between fludioxonil and benzimidazole fungicides but was detected between fludioxonil and dicarboximide fungicides which are considered as high resistance risk fungicides by FRAC, even though these fungicides have different molecular structures. By growing wild-type isolates on potato dextrose agar (PDA) containing sublethal concentrations of the fungicide, we obtained four fludioxonil-resistant mutants with resistance factors (EC50 resistant/EC50 sensitive phenotypes) >2000. The laboratory fludioxonil mutants were less fitter than their parental isolates in terms of mycelial radial growth, pathogenicity and sclerotial production. Moreover, on PDA amended with NaCl, the laboratory fludioxonil mutants grew more slowly than their fludioxonil-sensitive parents, especially at lower concentrations of NaCl. According to the fitness of mutants and the cross-resistance between fludioxonil and dicarboximide fungicides, phenylpyrroles can be considered to pose a moderate resistance risk. In a field trial, fludioxonil provided greater control (over 90% disease control) of S. sclerotiorum than iprodione.

► Fludioxonil has never been used in controlling Sclerotinia stem rot in China. ► This work determined the sensitivity of field populations of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary before exposure to the fungicide fludioxonil (= baseline sensitivity) and assessed the risk of fludioxonil resistance. ► Fludioxonil exhibited strong fungicidal activity against S. sclerotiorum in vitro and controlled Sclerotinia stem rot in a field experiment. ► Fludioxonil can be used in the Management of benzimidazole resistance.