Title : 6-Pentyl-α-Pyrone, a strong antifungal compound, against the maize late wilt pathogen, magnaporthiopsis maydis
Abstract:
6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6-PP) is a powerful Magnaporthiopsis maydis antifungal compound, recently discovered when the potent growth medium of Trichoderma asperellum was analyzed. Its high potential in plate assay was approved here and inspected for plant treatment prevention. Late wilt disease, caused by the fungus M. maydis, threatens commercial maize production in high-risk areas. Thus, searching for control options against the pathogen is one of the top priorities in Israel, Egypt, and other countries. Disease-resistant maize genotypes can reduce the damage. Yet, aggressive variants of the fungus can overcome host resistance. The current study aimed to inspect T. asperellum and its secreted metabolite, pure 6-PP, against the pathogen in plants over a full growth period. First, adding T. asperellum directly to seeds with sowing provides significant protection to sprouts (up to 42 days) in a growth room, with more than two-fold growth promotion and reduced pathogen root infection (detected by real-time PCR). The same procedure applied in a commercial field was less beneficial in rescuing the plants’ growth and yield. Still, it reduced the cobs’ symptoms by 11%, resulting in nine-fold lower levels of the pathogen’s DNA in the stem tissue. Second, the T. asperellum purified 6-PP compound (30 µg/seed) was used in seed coating and tested against the T. asperellum secretory metabolites’ crude (diluted to 50%). At the season’s end, these treatments improved plant biomass by 90–120% and cob weight by 60%. Moreover, the treatments significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the symptoms (up to 20%) and pathogen infection (94–98%). The current study’s results reveal the potential of 6-PP as a new fungicide against M. maydis. Such a treatment may protect maize plants from other soil diseases.
Audience Take Away
- Late wilt disease (LWD) is a devastating threat in high-risk areas.
- Trichoderma asperellum and its secreted 6-Pentyl-α-Pyrone (6-PP) restrict the pathogen in vitro.
- While the enrichment of seeds with T. asperellum rescued sprouts from the disease but was less efficient in the field, T. asperellum secreted metabolites or 6-PP seed coating significantly protected mature plants and reduced infection.
- The 6-PP’s high potential against the LWD pathogen can be significant in integrated control.
