Journal of Infectious Diseases and Treatment Open Access

Evaluating the Potential of Oxathiapiprolin as a Treatment for Kauri Dieback Disease

Isolde Virelli^* Department of Health Education, University of New South Wales, Australia
^*Correspondence: Isolde Virelli, Department of Health Education, University of New South Wales, Australia, Email:

Received: 30-Oct-2024, Manuscript No. IPJIDT-25-22112; Editor assigned: 01-Nov-2024, Pre QC No. IPJIDT-25-22112 (PQ); Reviewed: 15-Nov-2024, QC No. IPJIDT-25-22112; Revised: 20-Nov-2024, Manuscript No. IPJIDT-25-22112 (R); Published: 27-Nov-2024, DOI: 10.36648/2472-1093-10.11.105

Description

Kauri dieback disease, caused by the soil-borne pathogen Phytophthora Agathidicida, has led to the decline of the iconic Kauri trees in New Zealand. This devastating disease has significant ecological and economic implications, as Kauri trees are a keystone species in New Zealand’s native forests. Despite extensive efforts to manage and control the disease, there remains an urgent need for effective treatments that can halt or slow down the progression of the disease. One promising approach is the use of chemical fungicides, and oxathiapiprolin, a systemic fungicide developed for the control of Phytophthora diseases, has been identified as a potential candidate for in planta treatment against kauri dieback. Oxathiapiprolin is a member of the piperidinyl thiazole class of fungicides and works by inhibiting the activity of the Phytophthora pathogen’s protein complexes involved in the synthesis of important cellular components, thereby disrupting the pathogen’s ability to grow and spread. The fungicide has been primarily used in agricultural applications to control Phytophthora species in crops such as potatoes, grapes, and tomatoes. Its systemic nature, meaning it is absorbed and transported within the plant, makes it particularly promising for controlling soil-borne pathogens, as it can potentially reach the roots where P. agathidicida infects Kauri trees. In planta efficacy testing of oxathiapiprolin for kauri dieback involves evaluating how well the fungicide can be absorbed by Kauri trees and whether it can inhibit the growth and spread of P. agathidicida in the plant tissues. The treatment could be applied either through soil drenching or injection into the trunk, both of which are commonly used methods for delivering systemic fungicides. Oxathiapiprolin has been shown to be effective against Phytophthora pathogens in other plants, and its potential to control kauri dieback will depend on several factors, including the fungicide’s ability to reach the roots of the trees, the persistence of the active ingredient within the tree, and the ability of the fungicide to disrupt the pathogen’s lifecycle. One of the primary concerns in assessing the in planta efficacy of oxathiapiprolin is the impact of the fungicide on the health and longevity of the Kauri tree itself. Long-term exposure to chemical treatments can sometimes lead to unintended negative effects, such as phytotoxicity or the development of fungicide-resistant strains of the pathogen. It is crucial to conduct field trials that monitor the overall health of treated trees over time, ensuring that the fungicide does not cause harm to the Kauri trees while effectively controlling the pathogen. Additionally, the specific application method must be optimized to ensure adequate distribution of the fungicide throughout the tree, particularly to the roots, which are the primary site of infection. Another challenge in using oxathiapiprolin for kauri dieback control is the natural variability in how trees respond to fungal infections. Different tree populations or even individual trees may exhibit varying degrees of resistance or susceptibility to both the pathogen and the fungicide. This variability can complicate the results of efficacy trials, as some trees may show greater resilience to the disease, while others may not respond well to the treatment. Therefore, a combination of laboratory, greenhouse, and field trials is necessary to assess the full range of factors that influence the treatment’s success. Moreover, it is important to consider the environmental impact of using oxathiapiprolin in forest ecosystems. As the fungicide is designed for agricultural crops, its use in native forests introduces concerns about its impact on non-target species, including other plants, insects, and microorganisms.

Acknowledgement

None.

Conflict Of Interest

The author declares there is no conflict of interest in publishing this article.