A lipophilic cation protects crops against fungal pathogens by multiple modes of action.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 32231209.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-020-14949-y and PMC identifier 7105494.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
The emerging resistance of crop pathogens to fungicides poses a challenge to food security and compels discovery of new antifungal compounds. Here, we show that mono-alkyl lipophilic cations (MALCs) inhibit oxidative phosphorylation by affecting NADH oxidation in the plant pathogens Zymoseptoria tritici, Ustilago maydis and Magnaporthe oryzae. One of these MALCs, consisting of a dimethylsulfonium moiety and a long alkyl chain (C<sub>18</sub>-SMe<sub>2</sub><sup>+</sup>), also induces production of reactive oxygen species at the level of respiratory complex I, thus triggering fungal apoptosis. In addition, C<sub>18</sub>-SMe<sub>2</sub><sup>+</sup> activates innate plant defense. This multiple activity effectively protects cereals against Septoria tritici blotch and rice blast disease. C<sub>18</sub>-SMe<sub>2</sub><sup>+</sup> has low toxicity in Daphnia magna, and is not mutagenic or phytotoxic. Thus, MALCs hold potential as effective and non-toxic crop fungicides.
Medical subject headings
- Cations
- Crops, Agricultural
- Fungicides, Industrial
- Plant Diseases
- Protective Agents