AUTHOR=Giraldo Diego , Saldarriaga Catalina , García Héctor , López Miguel , González Adriana 

TITLE=Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of resistance to fenhexamid, carboxin, and, prochloraz, in Botrytis cinerea isolates collected from cut roses in Colombia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1378597

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1378597

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Gray mold, caused by <italic>Botrytis</italic> sp., is a significant disease in Colombian rose crops and its control depends primarily on the intensive use of chemically synthesized fungicides. Despite the importance of this pathogen, there is limited information in Colombian floriculture about molecular taxonomy of species, fungicide resistance of populations and their genetic mechanism of resistance. In this study, we analyze 12 isolates of this fungus collected from rose-producing crops in the Department of Cundinamarca and conducted phylogenetic analysis using <italic>HSP60</italic>, <italic>G3PDH</italic>, and <italic>RPB2</italic> gene sequences. Additionally, we realize phenotypic and genotypic characterization of resistance to the fungicides fenhexamid, carboxin, and prochloraz, evaluating the <italic>in vitro</italic> EC<sub>50</sub> and presence of mutations of target genes of each isolate. All isolates were characterized as <italic>Botrytis cinerea</italic> in the phylogenetic analysis and presents different levels of resistance to each fungicide. These levels are related to mutations in target genes, with predominancy of L195F and L400F in the <italic>ERG27</italic> gene to fenhexamid resistance, H272R/Y in the <italic>SDHB</italic> gene for carboxin resistance, and Y136F in the <italic>CYP51</italic> gene for prochloraz resistance. Finally, these mutations were not related to morphological changes. Collectively, this knowledge, presented for the first time to the Colombian floriculture, contribute to a better understanding of the genetic diversity and population of <italic>B. cinerea</italic> from rose-producing crops in the department of Cundinamarca, and serve as a valuable tool for making informed decisions regarding disease management, future research, and improving crop management and sustainability in the Colombian floriculture industry.</p>