Population dynamics of QoI-resistant rice blast strains in Hyogo Prefecture associated with the use and discontinuation of QoI fungicides
摘要
In 2013 QoI-resistant strains of the rice blast fungus (MoO) emerged suddenly and spread in Hyogo Prefecture. To estimate factors associated with their spread and subsequent survival, the population structure of MoO strains was monitored from 2013 to 2017 and 2023 using DNA fingerprinting with Pot2. Most of the QoI-resistant isolates collected in 2013 were classified into haplotype HY1, irrespective of areas of collection in Hyogo Prefecture. This result suggests that the sudden emergence and spread of the QoI-resistant strains in 2013 were caused by almost the single haplotype HY1 probably through seed transmission. After discontinuance of the QoI fungicide application in 2014, however, the QoI-resistant strains decreased over the course of several years, suggesting that genetic alterations conferring the QoI resistance may have caused a decrease in fitness. Conversely, QoI-sensitive strains increased after 2015, but predominant haplotypes changed across years of collection. We suggest that it could be possible to re-use the QoI-fungicide if the disappearance of the resistant strains is confirmed by careful monitoring of QoI resistance throughout the prefecture, especially in and around fields for seed production.