title: The mononuclear nickel(II) complex bis(azido-κN)bis[2,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-κ2N2,N3]nickel(II) protects tomato from Verticillium dahliae by inhibiting fungal growth and activating plant defences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The antifungal properties of the nickel(II) complex bis(azido-κN)bis[2,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-κ2N2,N3]nickel(II) [NiL2(N3)2] and its parental ligand 2,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole were examined to evaluate their ability to protect tomato plants against Verticillium dahliae. Our main objectives were to determine their effects on the in vitro growth of the pathogen, and their aptitude for controlling verticillium wilt and activating plant defence responses in the greenhouse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NiL2(N3)2exhibited in vitro an elevated inhibition of radial growth of three strains of the pathogen. According to the strain, the EC50values ranged from 10 to 29 µg mL-1for NiL2(N3)2. In the greenhouse, it induced an elevated protection against V. dahliae when it was applied twice as foliar sprays at 50 µg mL-1. It reduced the leaf alteration index by 85% and vessel browning by 96%. In addition, its protective ability was associated with the accumulation of H2O2and the activation of total phenolic content, as well as potentiation of the activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrated that the coordination of the ligand with Ni associated with the azide as a coligand resulted in an improvement in its biological activity by both inhibiting the growth of V. dahliae and activating plant defence responses. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorisation, Faculty of Sciences, University Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco.
authors.forename: Hanane
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zine
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorisation, Faculty of Sciences, University Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco.
authors.forename: Lalla Aicha
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rifai
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorisation, Faculty of Sciences, University Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco.
authors.forename: Tayeb
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koussa
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Catalyse et de Corrosion de Matériaux, Faculty of Sciences, University Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco.
authors.forename: Fouad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bentiss
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Coordination and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco.
authors.forename: Salaheddine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guesmi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Coordination and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco.
authors.forename: Abdelhakim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laachir
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorisation, Faculty of Sciences, University Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco.
authors.forename: Kacem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makroum
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorisation, Faculty of Sciences, University Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco.
authors.forename: Malika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belfaiza
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorisation, Faculty of Sciences, University Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faize
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000382:microbiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013830:Thiadiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020172:Verticillium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D013830:Thiadiazoles; D009532:Nickel
keywords: 2,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole; Verticillium dahliae; growth inhibition; nickel azide complex; protection; tomato