Effect of ultraviolet light A in the infective capacity of Monilinia in Merryl O'Henry peach tree petals

Identifier:  TFG:2118

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG2118

Authors:  Cava Camí, Ángela

Abstract:
Brown rot is a disease that mainly affects to stone fruit and it is produced by Monilinia genus fungi, mostly by the following species: M. fructigena, M. fructicola and M. laxa. The surveillance capacity of Monilinia spp. during the winter and the availability to form mummy structures allows this fungi being a primary source of inoculate for the following years. For this reason, nowadays measures are being taken to minimize the economical losses associated to this disease. However, it is necessary to look for other alternatives due to their partial inefficiency. The main objective of this study is to analyse the effect of the ultraviolet light A (UVA) in the virulence of Monilinia spp. during the germination process and his interaction with the petals of the peach tree “Merril O’Henry”. To achieve this, an in vitro study was carried out based on the germination with each mentioned pathogen (M. laxa and M. fructicola) in different light conditions (UVA and white). Moreover, to analyse the petal-Monilinia interaction effect, petals in the different conditions mentioned above were infected. Afterwards, incidence was determined and gene expression was analysed for pectin methyl esterases (PMEs) family proteins. These PMEs are enzymes that degrade the cellular matrix that could act as a virulence factors in Monilinia spp.. The germination results showed that UVA light reduced the number of germinated conidia. However during the petal-Monilinia process interaction, a major virulence was found that could be explained by PMEs gene expression in this UVA light conditions. Key words: Brown rot, Monilinia, ultraviolet light A, germination, pathogen-host interaction