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Oligomycins inhibit Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum and suppress wheat blast disease

Moutoshi Chakraborty1, Nur Uddin Mahmud1, Abu Naim Md Muzahid1

  • 1Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh.

Plos One
|August 18, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Oligomycins from Streptomyces spp. effectively inhibit wheat blast fungus (Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum) growth, spore formation, and germination. These natural products show promise as biopesticides for controlling wheat blast disease.

Area of Science:

  • Agricultural Science
  • Mycology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Oligomycins are macrolide antibiotics with known antimicrobial properties.
  • Filamentous fungal phytopathogens rely on conidiogenesis, spore germination, and appressoria for disease development.
  • Wheat blast, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum (MoT), is a significant threat to wheat production.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo suppressive effects of oligomycin B and F on MoT.
  • To assess the impact of these oligomycins on key fungal pathogenicity factors: hyphal growth, conidiogenesis, conidial germination, and appressorial formation.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro assays were conducted to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of oligomycins B and F against MoT hyphal growth.
  • Conidiogenesis, conidial germination, and appressorial formation were analyzed after treatment with oligomycins.
  • In vivo efficacy was tested using a detached leaf assay for wheat blast suppression.

Main Results:

  • Both oligomycins B and F demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of MoT mycelial growth, with oligomycin F being more potent (MIC 0.005 μg/disk vs. 0.05 μg/disk for oligomycin B).
  • Oligomycins completely inhibited conidial formation and significantly suppressed conidial germination, inducing lysis and abnormal germ tube formation.
  • Appressorial formation was also suppressed, and significant control of wheat blast was observed in detached leaf assays.

Conclusions:

  • Oligomycins B and F effectively inhibit multiple stages of the MoT life cycle, including mycelial growth, sporulation, and infection structures.
  • These findings present oligomycins as potential natural biopesticides for managing wheat blast disease.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mode of action of these macrolide antibiotics.

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