Food legumes are annual and multifunctional crops with extraordinary historical importance for the agriculture and the environment of the Mediterranean basin. Their production is decreasing in most of the Mediterranean farming systems for the low and irregular yield as a consequence of biotic and abiotic stresses. Among the main biotic constraints are necrotrophic fungi, including essentially Ascochyta and Botrytis species producing phytotoxins, belonging to different classes of natural compounds, involved in the development of disease symptoms. Foliar diseases caused by biotrophic pathogens, such as rusts and powdery mildews, are other limiting factors in legume production worldwide. Parasitic weeds and aphids also cause significant yield and quality reduction. In this communication the chemical and biological characterization of the phytotoxins produced by fungal pathogens of legumes will be illustrated as well as their potential for crop protection based on their antagonistic activity to develop new ecofriendly fungicides. Phytotoxins could also be used to select resistant varieties of host plants and for their antifeedant activity. Furthermore, the ability of some fungal, plant and plant root exudate metabolites as stimulants and/or inhibitors of parasitic seed germination and in the induction of haustorial development will be discussed.

Fungal and plant phytotoxins as tool for legume crops protection

256th National Meeting (2018)

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