Monitoring and characterization of Magnaporthe grisea isolates with decreased sensitivity to scytalone dehydratase inhibitors.

Rice blast fungus isolates were collected in Kyushu to investigate resistance to scytalone dehydratase inhibitors of melanin biosynthesis (MBI-D). In 2001, failure of control of rice blast was reported in the Saga prefecture, where MBI-Ds have been used since 1998. At that time, the distribution of resistant isolates was mainly limited to that area. However, in 2002, resistant isolates were detected in all prefectures of Kyushu. DNA fingerprinting analysis showed that the mutation causing resistance to MBI-Ds had arisen independently in each area. These data suggest that resistant isolates may occur in any area and become dominant under continuous selection pressure for MBI-Ds. Nevertheless, resistant strains can be controlled by reductase inhibitors of melanin biosynthesis (MBI-R) or commercial rice seed disinfectants.