Multiple mutations in the predicted transmembrane domains of the cellulose synthase 3 (CesA3) of Phytophthora capsici can confer semi-dominant resistance to carboxylic acid amide fungicides.

The current study established a clearer understanding of the molecular basis for resistance to carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides. Although four cellulose synthase (CesA) genes were investigated, only F1073L, G1105A, V1109L in CesA3 were found to link to CAA-resistance in Phytophthora capsici. Back-transformation experiments confirmed the role of the three mutations in CAA-resistance. Inheritance studies also confirmed the link and indicated the resistance was semi-dominant with the heterozygous F and F progeny exhibiting intermediate resistance levels compared to the homozygous parents, which was validated by the pyrosequencing results. The semi-dominant nature of CAA-resistance implies that it could be easy for resistance to spread once resistance emerged, being facilitated by both sexual and asexual reproduction. Bioinformatic analysis indicated all mutations occurred in either the first or second of the predicted transmembrane domains at C-terminus of CesA3. Resistant isolates bearing different combinations of mutations were found to exhibit different resistance levels to different CAAs, indicating that each mutation could make different contributions to resistance phenotype depending on structural differences in different CAAs. The current results highlight the complex combinations of mutations and resistance phenotype, and further reinforces the research necessity to completely characterize CAA-resistance to develop appropriate strategies to manage resistance development.