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Effects of Thifluzamide Treatment on the Production of Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes in Rhizoctonia solani and Phenylpropane Metabolism in Pear Fruit

Summary

A new fungicide called thifluzamide was tested on pear fruits infected with a fungus that causes rot. The fungicide works in two ways: it stops the fungus from producing enzymes that break down plant cell walls, and it boosts the pear’s natural defense system by increasing protective compounds like flavonoids and phenolic acids. This dual action makes thifluzamide a promising treatment for preventing fruit rot during storage and transport.

Background

Pear fruit production is threatened by postharvest fungal disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani, a pathogen that secretes cell wall-degrading enzymes to penetrate plant tissues. Thifluzamide is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicide with potential antimicrobial properties. Understanding how thifluzamide affects pathogen virulence factors and plant defense mechanisms is important for disease management.

Objective

To investigate the effects of thifluzamide treatment on the activities of cell wall-degrading enzymes secreted by R. solani and the activities of enzymes involved in phenylpropanoid metabolism in ‘Huangguan’ pear fruit during storage.

Results

Thifluzamide treatment significantly inhibited the activities of all cell wall-degrading enzymes produced by R. solani. In pear fruits, thifluzamide increased activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, and 4-coumarate CoA ligase, along with increased contents of flavonoids and total phenolic compounds. Expression of genes involved in phenylpropanoid metabolism (PcPAL, PcC4H, Pc4CL, Pcβ-1,3-GA, PcLCH, PcF3H, PcDFR) was significantly upregulated.

Conclusion

Thifluzamide reduces R. solani infection ability by inhibiting expression of cell wall-degrading enzyme genes in the pathogen while simultaneously inducing disease resistance in pears through activation of phenylpropanoid metabolism. This dual action demonstrates thifluzamide’s potential as an effective pre-harvest fungicide for controlling pear fruit rot.
  • Published in:Pathogens,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.3390/pathogens13110963
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