In higher plants, three subfamilies of sucrose nonfermenting-1 (Snf1)-related protein kinases have evolved. While the Snf1-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) subfamily has been shown to share pivotal roles with the orthologous yeast Snf1 and mammalian AMP-activated protein kinase in modulating energy and metabolic homeostasis, the functional significance of the two plant-specific subfamilies SnRK2 and SnRK3 in these critical processes is poorly understood. We show here that SnRK2.6, previously identified as crucial in the control of stomatal aperture by abscisic acid (ABA), has a broad expression pattern and participates in the regulation of plant primary metabolism. Inactivation of this gene reduced oil synthesis in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seeds, whereas its overexpression increased Suc synthesis and fatty acid desaturation in the leaves. Notably, the metabolic alterations in the SnRK2.6 overexpressors were accompanied by amelioration of those physiological processes that require high levels of carbon and energy input, such as plant growth and seed production. However, the mechanisms underlying these functionalities could not be solely attributed to the role of SnRK2.6 as a positive regulator of ABA signaling, although we demonstrate that this kinase confers ABA hypersensitivity during seedling growth. Collectively, our results suggest that SnRK2.6 mediates hormonal and metabolic regulation of plant growth and development and that, besides the SnRK1 kinases, SnRK2.6 is also implicated in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis in plants.Plants are constantly confronted by biotic and abiotic stresses and nutrient deprivation that disrupt metabolic and energy homeostasis or diminish carbon and energy availability for maintaining cell vitality, growth, and proliferation. It is believed that maintaining energy balance and availability at the cellular and organism levels is critical for optimizing plant growth and development. This underscores the cellular and physiological importance of energy sensors that control energy balance through regulating fundamental metabolic pathways in response to nutritional and environmental stresses.At present, a prevailing view is that energy sensors are evolutionarily conserved in eukaryotes, which are represented by Snf1 (for sucrose nonfermenting-1) in yeast, AMPK (for AMP-activated protein kinase) in

BACKGROUNDThe development of novel highly efficacious fungicides that lack cross‐resistance is extremely desirable. Fenpicoxamid (Inatreq™ active) possesses these characteristics and is a member of a novel picolinamide class of fungicides derived from the antifungal natural product UK‐2A.RESULTSFenpicoxamid strongly inhibited in vitro growth of several ascomycete fungi, including Zymoseptoria tritici (EC50, 0.051 mg L−1). Fenpicoxamid is converted by Z. tritici to UK‐2A, a 15‐fold stronger inhibitor of Z. tritici growth (EC50, 0.0033 mg L−1). Strong fungicidal activity of fenpicoxamid against driver cereal diseases was confirmed in greenhouse tests, where activity on Z. tritici and Puccinia triticina matched that of fluxapyroxad. Due to its novel target site (Qi site of the respiratory cyt bc1 complex) for the cereals market, fenpicoxamid is not cross‐resistant to Z. tritici isolates resistant to strobilurin and/or azole fungicides. Across multiple European field trials Z. tritici was strongly controlled (mean, 82%) by 100 g as ha−1 applications of fenpicoxamid, which demonstrated excellent residual activity.CONCLUSIONSThe novel chemistry and biochemical target site of fenpicoxamid as well as its lack of cross‐resistance and strong efficacy against Z. tritici and other pathogens highlight the importance of fenpicoxamid as a new tool for controlling plant pathogenic fungi. © 2017 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

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The 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy picolinic acid moiety of UK-2A can be replaced by a variety of o-hydroxy-substituted arylcarboxylic acids that retain strong activity against Z. tritici and other agriculturally relevant fungi. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.