Induced selection of tebuconazole-resistant Aspergillus flavus isolates during germination of treated corn seeds

Azole fungicides are used for spraying crops and also in seed treatments of corn, wheat and other important agricultural crops, in which seeds are dressed with a plastic-like coat containing an azole fungicide and other seed and seedling protection agents. In this study, the effect of tebuconazole i...

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Main Authors: Chiara Morena, Cesare Accinelli, Veronica Bruno, Hamed K. Abbas, Ryan T. Paulk, W. Thomas Shier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154324006033
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author Chiara Morena
Cesare Accinelli
Veronica Bruno
Hamed K. Abbas
Ryan T. Paulk
W. Thomas Shier
author_facet Chiara Morena
Cesare Accinelli
Veronica Bruno
Hamed K. Abbas
Ryan T. Paulk
W. Thomas Shier
author_sort Chiara Morena
collection DOAJ
description Azole fungicides are used for spraying crops and also in seed treatments of corn, wheat and other important agricultural crops, in which seeds are dressed with a plastic-like coat containing an azole fungicide and other seed and seedling protection agents. In this study, the effect of tebuconazole in corn seed treatment on selecting for tebuconazole-resistant A. flavus isolates was investigated. Seed-borne A. flavus isolates growing during seed germination were tested for tebuconazole resistance. When seeds were treated with increasing dosages of tebuconazole, the relative abundance of resistant isolates increased. At the recommended dosage, up to 72.1 % of the seed borne A. flavus isolates that emerged from germinating seeds were resistant to tebuconazole. Resistance increased to 83.4 and 95.1 %, when dosages were doubled or quadrupled, respectively. Application of tebuconazole also increased the abundance of aflatoxin-producing isolates of A. flavus, from 32.2 % in untreated seeds to 67.4 % in seeds receiving the highest dosage. Results from this study suggest that seed treatment with tebuconazole should be included in the list of hotspots that induce resistance to azole antifungals and that measures and strategies, such as alternative fungicides with different metabolic targets, should be considered for reducing this risk.
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spelling doaj-art-ce3eee66b5f94fe9abce8d1b0ed1a9692025-08-20T03:05:00ZengElsevierJournal of Agriculture and Food Research2666-15432025-03-011910156610.1016/j.jafr.2024.101566Induced selection of tebuconazole-resistant Aspergillus flavus isolates during germination of treated corn seedsChiara Morena0Cesare Accinelli1Veronica Bruno2Hamed K. Abbas3Ryan T. Paulk4W. Thomas Shier5Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, Italy; Corresponding author.Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, ItalyUSDA-ARS, Biological Control of Pests Research Unit, Stoneville, 38776, Mississippi, USAUSDA-ARS, Biological Control of Pests Research Unit, Stoneville, 38776, Mississippi, USADepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455, Minnesota, USAAzole fungicides are used for spraying crops and also in seed treatments of corn, wheat and other important agricultural crops, in which seeds are dressed with a plastic-like coat containing an azole fungicide and other seed and seedling protection agents. In this study, the effect of tebuconazole in corn seed treatment on selecting for tebuconazole-resistant A. flavus isolates was investigated. Seed-borne A. flavus isolates growing during seed germination were tested for tebuconazole resistance. When seeds were treated with increasing dosages of tebuconazole, the relative abundance of resistant isolates increased. At the recommended dosage, up to 72.1 % of the seed borne A. flavus isolates that emerged from germinating seeds were resistant to tebuconazole. Resistance increased to 83.4 and 95.1 %, when dosages were doubled or quadrupled, respectively. Application of tebuconazole also increased the abundance of aflatoxin-producing isolates of A. flavus, from 32.2 % in untreated seeds to 67.4 % in seeds receiving the highest dosage. Results from this study suggest that seed treatment with tebuconazole should be included in the list of hotspots that induce resistance to azole antifungals and that measures and strategies, such as alternative fungicides with different metabolic targets, should be considered for reducing this risk.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154324006033AzolesFungicidesMaize seedsFungicide resistanceMoldsSeed treatment
spellingShingle Chiara Morena
Cesare Accinelli
Veronica Bruno
Hamed K. Abbas
Ryan T. Paulk
W. Thomas Shier
Induced selection of tebuconazole-resistant Aspergillus flavus isolates during germination of treated corn seeds
Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Azoles
Fungicides
Maize seeds
Fungicide resistance
Molds
Seed treatment
title Induced selection of tebuconazole-resistant Aspergillus flavus isolates during germination of treated corn seeds
title_full Induced selection of tebuconazole-resistant Aspergillus flavus isolates during germination of treated corn seeds
title_fullStr Induced selection of tebuconazole-resistant Aspergillus flavus isolates during germination of treated corn seeds
title_full_unstemmed Induced selection of tebuconazole-resistant Aspergillus flavus isolates during germination of treated corn seeds
title_short Induced selection of tebuconazole-resistant Aspergillus flavus isolates during germination of treated corn seeds
title_sort induced selection of tebuconazole resistant aspergillus flavus isolates during germination of treated corn seeds
topic Azoles
Fungicides
Maize seeds
Fungicide resistance
Molds
Seed treatment
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154324006033
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