Mechanisms of resistance to Qol fungicides in phytopathogenic fungi

The major threat to crops posed by fungal diseases results in the use by growers of enormous amounts of chemicals. Of these, quinol oxydation inhibitors (QoIs) are probably the most successful class of agricultural fungicides. QoIs inhibit mitochondrial respiration in fungi by binding to the Qo site of the cytochrome bc(1), complex, blocking electron transfer and halting ATP synthesis. Unfortunately, the rapid development of resistance to these fungicides and consequent control failure has become increasingly problematic. The main mechanism conferring resistance to QoIs is target site modification, involving mutations in the cytochrome b gene CYTB, such as the substitution of glycine by alanine at position 143 (G143A) that occurs in several phytopathogenic fungi. The impact of other mechanisms, including alternative respiration and efflux transporters, on resistance seems to be limited. Interestingly, in some species QoI resistance is not supported by mutations in CYTB, while in others the structure of the gene is such that it is unlikely to undergo G143A mutations. Better understanding of the biological basis of QoI resistance in a single pathogen species will facilitate the development of resistance diagnostic tools as well as proper anti-resistance strategies aimed at maintaining the high efficacy of these fungicides.