Investigation of molecular mechanisms associated with fungicide sensitivity in Irish Pyrenopeziza brassicae populations

Light leaf spot is amongst the most damaging diseases of oilseed rape and a significant threat to Irish crops. Unfortunately, the epidemiology of Pyrenopeziza brassicae, the agent causing this disease, remains poorly understood under Irish growing conditions and fungicides are relied upon to provide control. To investigate if the cropping strategies currently used are the best for the control of disease, we screened three populations of P. brassicae isolates from different regions of Ireland for alterations in the genes targeted by azole and Methyl benzamidazole carbamate fungicides. As molecular mechanisms associated with a decrease in fungicide sensitivity were observed in the populations, the results will be correlated with data from fungicide sensitivity tests using these classes of fungicides.