Transcriptome analysis for asexual reproduction in the plant pathogen Phytophthora capsici from tomato juice

Phytophthora is a genus of fungus-like microorganisms that damages important crops such as potatoes and tomatoes. Its asexual reproduction, resulting in the production of numerous motile zoospores, is the cause of quick and severe outbreak of the crop damages. The search for substances that selectively inhibit the asexual reproduction led to the isolation of the known natural products naringenin and flazin from tomato juice. The structure-activity relationship study within 11 flavonoids including naringenin demonstrated that genistein was most active and flavonols/flavanonols possessing the 3-hydroxy function showed little activity. Transcriptome analysis revealed down regulation of some genes related to cell differentiation. The results suggest the potential of certain flavonoids as environmentally benign agents for protecting agricultural products from the Phytophthora pathogens.