In Vitro Assessment of <i>Penicillium expansum</i> Sensitivity to Difenoconazole

<i>Penicillium expansum</i> causes blue mold, a major post-harvest disease affecting apples. This disease is commonly managed using fungicides, including Difenoconazole (Dif), a demethylation inhibitor (DMI) approved for its control. This investigation aims to evaluate the baseline sensi...

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Main Authors: Mohammed Khadiri, Hassan Boubaker, Abdelaaziz Farhaoui, Said Ezrari, Mohammed Radi, Rachid Ezzouggari, Fouad Mokrini, Essaid Ait Barka, Rachid Lahlali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/11/2169
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author Mohammed Khadiri
Hassan Boubaker
Abdelaaziz Farhaoui
Said Ezrari
Mohammed Radi
Rachid Ezzouggari
Fouad Mokrini
Essaid Ait Barka
Rachid Lahlali
author_facet Mohammed Khadiri
Hassan Boubaker
Abdelaaziz Farhaoui
Said Ezrari
Mohammed Radi
Rachid Ezzouggari
Fouad Mokrini
Essaid Ait Barka
Rachid Lahlali
author_sort Mohammed Khadiri
collection DOAJ
description <i>Penicillium expansum</i> causes blue mold, a major post-harvest disease affecting apples. This disease is commonly managed using fungicides, including Difenoconazole (Dif), a demethylation inhibitor (DMI) approved for its control. This investigation aims to evaluate the baseline sensitivity of 100 <i>P. expansum</i> isolates to Difenoconazole. The isolates were collected from symptomatic apples in 34 storage warehouses across the Fes-Meknes and Draa-Tafilalet regions over three years (2020, 2021, and 2022). The study revealed an increase in the percentage of inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination of <i>P. expansum</i> proportional to the increasing concentration of the fungicide. Moreover, the results indicate that 46 isolates were able to develop even at a concentration of 5 µg/mL of Dif (the suggested discriminatory dose), indicating reduced sensitivity to this fungicide. The analysis of the values of the effective concentration to inhibit 50% (EC50) of mycelial growth of <i>P. expansum</i> ranging from 0.027 to 1.673 µg/mL (mean: 0.263 µg/mL, variation factor: 62.507) and for spore germination from 0.0002 to 0.787 µg/mL (mean: 0.048 µg/mL, variation factor: 4113.835). The wide variation in EC50 values indicates significant variability in the isolates’ responses to Dif, likely due to diverse sampling in space and time. Our results showed that some <i>P. expansum</i> isolates could grow even at high concentrations of Dif, indicating limited efficacy of this treatment. The EC50 of five isolates exceeded 0.92 µg/mL, suggesting potential resistance. This study indicates reduced sensitivity and possible emergence of resistant strains. Notably, it is the first evaluation of <i>P. expansum</i> sensitivity to Dif in Morocco.
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spelling doaj-art-3339c61276434a12a6859cd822d4d7c82025-08-20T02:05:06ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072024-10-011211216910.3390/microorganisms12112169In Vitro Assessment of <i>Penicillium expansum</i> Sensitivity to DifenoconazoleMohammed Khadiri0Hassan Boubaker1Abdelaaziz Farhaoui2Said Ezrari3Mohammed Radi4Rachid Ezzouggari5Fouad Mokrini6Essaid Ait Barka7Rachid Lahlali8Phytopathology Unit, Department of Plant Protection, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès, Km10, Rte Haj Kaddour, BP S/40, Meknes 50001, MoroccoLaboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies and Plant Protection, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zhor University, BP 8106, Agadir 8000, MoroccoPhytopathology Unit, Department of Plant Protection, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès, Km10, Rte Haj Kaddour, BP S/40, Meknes 50001, MoroccoMicrobiology Unit, Laboratory of Bioresources, Biotechnology, Ethnopharmacology and Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oujda, University Mohammed Premier, Oujda 60000, MoroccoPhytopathology Unit, Department of Plant Protection, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès, Km10, Rte Haj Kaddour, BP S/40, Meknes 50001, MoroccoPhytopathology Unit, Department of Plant Protection, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès, Km10, Rte Haj Kaddour, BP S/40, Meknes 50001, MoroccoBiotechnology Unit, Nematology Laboratory, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Rabat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, MoroccoInduced Resistance and Plant Biosection Research Unit, EA 4707-USC INRAE1488, Reims Champagne-Ardenne University, 51687 Reims, FrancePhytopathology Unit, Department of Plant Protection, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès, Km10, Rte Haj Kaddour, BP S/40, Meknes 50001, Morocco<i>Penicillium expansum</i> causes blue mold, a major post-harvest disease affecting apples. This disease is commonly managed using fungicides, including Difenoconazole (Dif), a demethylation inhibitor (DMI) approved for its control. This investigation aims to evaluate the baseline sensitivity of 100 <i>P. expansum</i> isolates to Difenoconazole. The isolates were collected from symptomatic apples in 34 storage warehouses across the Fes-Meknes and Draa-Tafilalet regions over three years (2020, 2021, and 2022). The study revealed an increase in the percentage of inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination of <i>P. expansum</i> proportional to the increasing concentration of the fungicide. Moreover, the results indicate that 46 isolates were able to develop even at a concentration of 5 µg/mL of Dif (the suggested discriminatory dose), indicating reduced sensitivity to this fungicide. The analysis of the values of the effective concentration to inhibit 50% (EC50) of mycelial growth of <i>P. expansum</i> ranging from 0.027 to 1.673 µg/mL (mean: 0.263 µg/mL, variation factor: 62.507) and for spore germination from 0.0002 to 0.787 µg/mL (mean: 0.048 µg/mL, variation factor: 4113.835). The wide variation in EC50 values indicates significant variability in the isolates’ responses to Dif, likely due to diverse sampling in space and time. Our results showed that some <i>P. expansum</i> isolates could grow even at high concentrations of Dif, indicating limited efficacy of this treatment. The EC50 of five isolates exceeded 0.92 µg/mL, suggesting potential resistance. This study indicates reduced sensitivity and possible emergence of resistant strains. Notably, it is the first evaluation of <i>P. expansum</i> sensitivity to Dif in Morocco.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/11/2169<i>P. expansum</i>applesensitivitydifenoconazoleresistanceEC50
spellingShingle Mohammed Khadiri
Hassan Boubaker
Abdelaaziz Farhaoui
Said Ezrari
Mohammed Radi
Rachid Ezzouggari
Fouad Mokrini
Essaid Ait Barka
Rachid Lahlali
In Vitro Assessment of <i>Penicillium expansum</i> Sensitivity to Difenoconazole
Microorganisms
<i>P. expansum</i>
apple
sensitivity
difenoconazole
resistance
EC50
title In Vitro Assessment of <i>Penicillium expansum</i> Sensitivity to Difenoconazole
title_full In Vitro Assessment of <i>Penicillium expansum</i> Sensitivity to Difenoconazole
title_fullStr In Vitro Assessment of <i>Penicillium expansum</i> Sensitivity to Difenoconazole
title_full_unstemmed In Vitro Assessment of <i>Penicillium expansum</i> Sensitivity to Difenoconazole
title_short In Vitro Assessment of <i>Penicillium expansum</i> Sensitivity to Difenoconazole
title_sort in vitro assessment of i penicillium expansum i sensitivity to difenoconazole
topic <i>P. expansum</i>
apple
sensitivity
difenoconazole
resistance
EC50
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/11/2169
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