Effect on ergosterol biosynthesis of a fungicide, SSF-109, in Botrytis cinerea

Treatment of Botrytis cinerea with a novel fungicide SSF-109, (dl)-cis-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)cyclo-heptanol (0.45μgml−1), gave five 14α-methyl sterols, 24-methylene-24(25)-dihydrolanosterol, 24-methylene-24(25)-dihydrolanosten-3-one, obtusifoliol, obtusifolione, and 14α-methylfecosterol, together with ergosterol and ergosta-5,8,22-trien-3β-ol. SSF-109 was found to inhibit the biosynthesis of ergosterol at the 14α-demethylation step.