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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #118235
Title: PHYTOXICITY AND MAMMALIAN CYTOTOXICITY OF MACROCYCLIC TRICHOTHECENE MYTOXINS FROM MYROTHECIUM VERRUCARIA

Author
item Abbas, Hamed
item Johnson, Bobbie
item SHIER, W - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item TAK, H - UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
item JARVIS, B - UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
item Boyette, Clyde

Submitted to: Phytochemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2001
Publication Date: 1/3/2002
Citation: Abbas, H.K., Johnson, B.J., Shier, W.T., Tak, H., Jarvis, B.B., Boyette, C.D. 2002. Phytoxicity and mammalian cytotoxicity of macrocyclic trichothecene mytoxins from myrothecium verrucaria. Phytochemistry. Vol. 59: 309-313.

Interpretive Summary: Kudzu is an imported vine that has become a major problem on roadsides and forests in the Southeastern United States. The fungus myrothecium verrucaria kills young kudzu plants. However, it is also known to produce a variety of macrocyclic trichothecene toxins that cause disease in plants and animals. This study determined the toxicity of these individual toxins in plants and mammalian cells to determine if some of these toxins are environmentally safe and still able to kill kudzu.

Technical Abstract: Macrocyclic trichothecene toxins produced by Myrothecium verrucaria (a phytopathogen of interest in biological weed control) and the non-trichothecene toxin atrano from Stachybotrys atra were tested for phytotoxicity in duckweed (Lemna pausicos L.) and kudzu (Pueraria montana L.) leaf disc assays. Mammalian cytotoxicity was tested in four culture cell lines. Roridin E and H, epi-isororidine E, and verrucarin A and J exhibited high phytotoxicity and high mammalian cytotoxicity. Trichoverrins A and B and atranone B exhibited moderate phytotoxicity and weak mammalian cytotoxicity.