Antioxidants and iron chelators inhibit oxygen radical generation in fungal cultures of plant pathogenic fungi.

Eutypa dieback and Esca are serious fungal grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs). Eutypa dieback is caused by Eutypa lata (Elata), and is often associated Phaeoacremonium minimum (Pmin), and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Pch) which are also important contributors to Esca disease. Understanding the complex pathogenesis mechanisms used by these causative fungi may potentially lead targeted treatments for GTDs in the future. Elata has been reported as a wood decay "soft rot" fungus and understanding of Elata's pathogenesis chemistries can aid in controlling GTDs. Recent work that suggests that Pmin and Pch may contribute to pathogenesis by stimulating hydroxyl radical generation via secretion of low molecular weight phenolic metabolites. Building on these findings, we tested a hypothesis that antioxidants and chelators, and biocontrol agents that have been reported to secrete antioxidants and low molecular weight chelators, may inhibit the growth and activity of these fungi. Butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were tested as antioxidant/chelators. BHA was found to be a highly effective control measure for the three pathogenic fungi tested at concentrations >0.5 mM. The biocontrol species Bacillus subtilis and Hypocrea (Trichoderma) atroviride were also tested, with both H. atroviride and B. subtilis effectively inhibiting growth of the three GTD fungi.