Hexaconazole Application Saves the Loss of Grey Mold Disease but Hinders Tomato Fruit Ripening in Healthy Plants

Hexaconazole (HEZ) is a triazole fungicide registered to prevent and control grey mold disease on tomatoes. Manytriazole fungicides exhibit plant regulator functions. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the effects of HEZ fungicides on thegrowth and development of tomatoes. In the present study, the effect of HEZ on healthy andBotrytis cinerea(B. cinerea)-infectedtomato plants was investigated. We found that HEZ delayed fruit ripening when applied to healthy tomato plants and furtherchanged the taste andflavor of these fruit. HEZ increased the size and prevented the rotting of the tomato fruit, thus saving greymold infection-related losses. Moreover, compared with applying HEZ on healthy plants, the application of HEZ onB. cinerea-infected plants increased the metabolism of sugars, acids, and aromatic compounds in these fruit. Therefore, HEZ can effectivelycontrol fungal pathogens but reduce the quality of tomato fruit

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of HEZ on healthy tomato plants and B. cinerea-infected tomato plants. HEZ delayed fruit ripening, changed taste and flavor, increased fruit size, and prevented rotting. However, applying HEZ also reduced the quality of tomato fruit.