Research Project: Improving Food Safety by Controlling Mycotoxin Contamination and Enhancing Climate Resilience of Wheat and Barley

Location: Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

The emerging Fusarium graminearum NA3 population produces high levels of mycotoxins in wheat and barley - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rhoades, N.A., McCormick, S.P., Vaughan, M.M., Hao, G. 2024. The emerging Fusarium graminearum NA3 population produces high levels of mycotoxins in wheat and barley. Toxins. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16090408.

The identification of a key gene highlights macrocyclic ring’s role in trichothecene toxicity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
McCormick, S.P., Cardoza, R.E., Martínez-Reyes, N., Vermillion, K., Busman, M., Rodríguez-González, A., Casquero, P.A., Proctor, R.H., Gutiérrez, S. 2024. The identification of a key gene highlights macrocyclic ring’s role in trichothecene toxicity. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-024-13297-x.

Diversity in the phyllosphere – greater than the sum of its parts? - (Review Article)
Whitaker, B.K. 2024. Diversity in the phyllosphere – greater than the sum of its parts?. New Phytologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19907.

TRI14 Is critical for Fusarium graminearum infection and spread in wheat - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hao, G., Proctor, R.H., Brown, D.W., Rhoades, N.A., Naumann, T.A., Kim, H.-S., Gutierrez, S., McCormick, S.P. 2024. TRI14 is critical for Fusarium graminearum infection and spread in wheat. Applied Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol4020058.

Reduction of Fusarium head blight and trichothecene contamination in transgenic wheat expressing Fusarium graminearum trichothecene 3-O-acetyltransferase - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yulfo-Soto, G., McCormick, S., Hui, C., Bai, G., Trick, H.N., Hao, G. 2024. Reduction of Fusarium head blight and trichothecene contamination in transgenic wheat expressing Fusarium graminearum trichothecene 3-O-acetyltransferase. Frontiers in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1389605.

The landscape and predicted roles of structural variants in Fusarium graminearum genomes - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dhakal, U., Kim, H.-S., Toomajian, C. 2024. The landscape and predicted roles of structural variants in Fusarium graminearum genomes. Genes, Genomes, and Genomics. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkae065.

Analysis of substrate specificity of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases involved in trichothecene toxin biosynthesis - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cardoza, R.E., McCormick, S.P., Martinez-Reyes, N., Rodríguez-Fernández, J., Busman, M., Proctor, R.H., Gutiérrez, S. 2024. Analysis of substrate specificity of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases involved in trichothecene toxin biosynthesis. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-023-12950-1.

Elevated CO2 can worsen Fusarium Head Blight disease severity in wheat, but the Fhb1 QTL provides reliable disease resistance - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hay, W.T., Anderson, J.A., Garvin, D.F., McCormick, S.P., Busman, M., Vaughan, M.M. 2023. Elevated CO2 can worsen Fusarium Head Blight disease severity in wheat, but the Fhb1 QTL provides reliable disease resistance. Plants. 12(20). https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203527.

Chitin and laminarin additively trigger wheat reactive oxygen species but not resistance to Fusarium head blight - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hao, G., Rhoades, N.A., McCormick, S. 2023. Chitin and laminarin additively trigger wheat reactive oxygen species but not resistance to Fusarium head blight. Plant Direct. 7(10). Article e538. https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.538.

Manipulating atmospheric CO2 concentration induces shifts in wheat leaf and spike microbiomes and in Fusarium pathogen communities - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bakker, M.G., Whitaker, B.K., McCormick, S.P., Ainsworth, E.A., Vaughan, M.M. 2023. Manipulating atmospheric CO2 concentration induces shifts in wheat leaf and spike microbiomes and in Fusarium pathogen communities. Frontiers in Microbiology. 14. Article 1271219. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1271219.

Genome sequence resource of the head blight pathogens Fusarium asiaticum and F. graminearum isolated from cereal crops and gramineous weeds in Korea and China - (Rapid Release Publication)
Jeong, E., Lim, J.Y., Proctor, R.H., Lee, Y.-W., Xu, J., Shi, J., Liu, X., Seo, J.-A. 2023. Genome sequence resource of the head blight pathogens Fusarium asiaticum and F. graminearum isolated from cereal crops and gramineous weeds in Korea and China. PhytoFrontiers. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-10-22-0120-A.

UDP-glucosyltransferase HvUGT13248 confers type II resistance to Fusarium graminearum in barley - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bethke, G., Huang, Y., Hensel, G., Heinen, S., Liu, C., Wyant, S.R., Li, X., Quin, M.B., McCormick, S.P., Morrell, P.L., Dong, Y., Kumlehn, J., Salvi, S., Berthiller, F., Muehlbauer, G.J. 2023. UDP-glucosyltransferase HvUGT13248 confers type II resistance to Fusarium graminearum in barley. Plant Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiad467.

Foliar fungal communities in agroecosystems depend on crop identity and neighboring vegetation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Whitaker, B.K., Heiniger, R.W., Hawkes, C.V. 2023. Foliar fungal communities in agroecosystems depend on crop identity and neighboring vegetation. Frontiers in Microbiomes. 2. Article 1216462. https://doi.org/10.3389/frmbi.2023.1216462.

Fusarium graminearum effector FgNls1 targets plant nuclei to induce wheat head blight - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hao, G., Naumann, T.A., Chen, H., Bai, G., McCormick, S., Kim, H.-S., Tian, B., Trick, H.N., Naldrett, M.J., Proctor, R. 2023. Fusarium graminearum effector FgNls1 targets plant nuclei to induce wheat head blight. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-12-22-0254-R.

Insights into the aggressiveness of the emerging North American population 3 (NA3) of Fusarium graminearum - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Laraba, I., Ward, T.J., Cuperlovic-Culf, M., Azimi, H., Xi, P., McCormick, S.P., Hay, W.T., Hao, G., Vaughan, M.M. 2023. Insights into the aggressiveness of the emerging North American population 3 (NA3) of Fusarium graminearum. Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-22-2698-RE.

NX trichothecenes are required for Fusarium graminearum infection of wheat - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hao, G., McCormick, S., Tiley, H., Gutierrez, S., Yulfo-Soto, G., Vaughan, M.M., Ward, T.J. 2023. NX trichothecenes are required for Fusarium graminearum infection of wheat. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. 36(5):294-304. https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-08-22-0164-R.

A novel trichothecene toxin phenotype associated with horizontal gene transfer and a change in gene function in Fusarium - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Proctor, R.H., Hao, G., Kim, H.-S., Whitaker, B.K., Laraba, I., Vaughan, M.M., McCormick, S.P. 2022. A novel trichothecene toxin phenotype associated with horizontal gene transfer and a change in gene function in Fusarium. Toxins. 15(1). Article 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15010012.

Effect of farnesol on Trichoderma physiology and fungal-plant interaction - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cardoza, R.E., McCormick, S.P., Lindo, L., Mayo-Prieto, S., Gonzalez-Caron, D., Martinez-Reyes, N., Carro-Huerga, G., Rodríguez-González, Á., Proctor, R.H., Casquero, P.A., Guttierrez, S. 2022. Effect of farnesol on Trichoderma physiology and fungal-plant interaction. The Journal of Fungi. 8(12). Article 1266. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8121266.

Fhb1 disease resistance QTL does not exacerbate wheat grain protein loss at elevated CO2 - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hay, W.T., Anderson, J.A., Garvin, D.F., McCormick, S.P., Vaughan, M.M. 2022. Fhb1 disease resistance QTL does not exacerbate wheat grain protein loss at elevated CO2. Frontiers in Plant Science. 13. Article 1034406. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1034406.

Biocontrol impacts on wheat physiology and Fusarium head blight outcomes are bacterial endophyte strain and cultivar specific - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Whitaker, B.K., Vaughan, M.M., McCormick, S.P. 2023. Biocontrol impacts on wheat physiology and Fusarium head blight outcomes are bacterial endophyte strain and cultivar specific. Phytobiomes Journal. 7(1):55-64. https://doi.org/10.1094/PBIOMES-08-22-0056-R.

Effects of trichothecene production by Trichoderma arundinaceum isolates from bean-field soils on the defense response, growth and development of bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cardoza, R.E., Mayo-Prieto, S., Martinez-Reyes, N., McCormick, S.P., Carro-Huerga, G., Campelo, M.P., Rodriguez-Gonzalez, A., Lorenzana, A., Proctor, R.H., Casquero, P.A., Gutierriez, S. 2022. Effects of trichothecene production by Trichoderma arundinaceum isolates from bean-field soils on the defense response, growth and development of bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris). Frontiers in Plant Science. 13. Article 1005906. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1005906.

Identification of polyketide synthase genes required for aspinolides biosynthesis in Trichoderma arundinaceum - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cardoza, R.E., McCormick, S.P., Izquierdo-Bueno, I., Martínez-Reyes, N., Lindo, L., Brown, D.W., Collado, I.G., Proctor, R.H., Gutierrez, S. 2022. Identification of polyketide synthase genes required for aspinolides biosynthesis in Trichoderma arundinaceum. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 106:7153–7171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-022-12182-9.

Editorial: Fusarium pathogenesis: Infection mechanisms and disease progression in host plants - (Other)
Beccari, G., Hao, G., Huiquan, L. 2022. Editorial: Fusarium pathogenesis: Infection mechanisms and disease progression in host plants. Frontiers in Plant Science. 13: Article 1020404. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1020404.

Modification of deoxynivalenol by a fungal laccase paired with redox mediator TEMPO - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shanakhat, H., McCormick, S.P., Busman, M., Rich, J.O., Bakker, M.G. 2022. Modification of deoxynivalenol by a fungal laccase paired with redox mediator TEMPO. Toxins. 14(8). Article 548. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14080548.

Chitin triggers tissue-specific immunity in wheat associated with Fusarium head blight - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hao, G., Tiley, H., McCormick, S. 2022. Chitin triggers tissue-specific immunity in wheat associated with Fusarium head blight. Frontiers in Plant Science. 13. Article 832502. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.832502.

Fusarium head blight resistance exacerbates nutritional loss of wheat grain at elevated CO2 - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hay, W.T., Anderson, J.A., McCormick, S.P., Hojilla-Evangelista, M.P., Selling, G.W., Utt, K.D., Bowman, M.J., Doll, K.M., Ascherl, K.L., Berhow, M.A., Vaughan, M.M. 2022. Fusarium head blight resistance exacerbates nutritional loss of wheat grain at elevated CO2. Scientific Reports. 12. Article 15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03890-9.

Effects of atmospheric CO2 and temperature on wheat and corn susceptibility to Fusarium graminearum and deoxynivalenol contamination - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hay, W.T., McCormick, S.P., Vaughan, M.M. 2021. Effects of atmospheric CO2 and temperature on wheat and corn susceptibility to Fusarium graminearum and deoxynivalenol contamination. Plants. 10(12). Article 2582. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122582.

Distribution, function, and evolution of a gene essential for trichothecene toxin biosynthesis in Trichoderma - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Guttierrez, S., McCormick, S.P., Cardoza, R.E., Kim, H.-S., Yugueros, L.L., Vaughan, M.M., Carro-Huerga, G., Busman, M., Saenz de Miera, L.E., Jaklitsch, W.M., Zhuang, W.-Y., Wang, C., Casquero, P.A., Proctor, R.H. 2022. Distribution, function, and evolution of a gene essential for trichothecene toxin biosynthesis in Trichoderma. Frontiers in Microbiology. 12. Article 791641. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.791641.

Perithecia detection from images of stubble using deep learning models - (Proceedings)

Fusarium graminearum species complex: A bibliographic analysis and web-accessible database for global mapping of species and trichothecene toxin chemotypes - (Review Article)
Del Ponte, E.M., Moreira, G.M., Ward, T.J., O'Donnell, K., Nicolli, C.P., Machado, F.J., Duffeck, M.R., Alves, K.S., Tessmann, D.J., Waalwijk, C., van der Lee, T., Kistler, H.C., et al. 2022. Fusarium graminearum species complex: A bibliographic analysis and web-accessible database for global mapping of species and trichothecene toxin chemotypes. Phytopathology. 112(4):741-751. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-21-0277-RVW.

Local plants, not soils, are the primary source of foliar fungal community assembly in a C4 grass - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Whitaker, B.K., Giauque, H., Timmerman, C., Birk, N., Hawkes, C.V. 2021. Local plants, not soils, are the primary source of foliar fungal community assembly in a C4 grass. Microbial Ecology. 84:122–130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-021-01836-2.

Conspecific leaf litter induces negative feedbacks in Asteraceae seedlings - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zaret, M.M., Bauer, J.T., Clay, K., Whitaker, B.K. 2021. Conspecific leaf litter induces negative feedbacks in Asteraceae seedlings. Ecology. 102(12). Article e03557. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3557.

Harnessing chemical ecology for environment-friendly crop protection - (Review Article)
Kang, S., Lumactud, R., Li, N., Bell, T.H., Kim, H.-S., Park, S.-Y., Lee, Y.-H. 2021. Harnessing chemical ecology for environment-friendly crop protection. Phytopathology. 111(10):1697-1710. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-01-21-0035-RVW.

Host genetic by environment interactions in crop and wild plant microbiomes - (Abstract Only)
Whitaker, B.K., Qling, C., Christian, N., Clay, K., Hawkes, C.V., Reynolds, H. 2021. Host genetic by environment interactions in crop and wild plant microbiomes [abstract].

Trichothecene NX-3 is required for Fusarium graminearum initial infection and disease spread - (Abstract Only)
Hao, G., Usgaard, T.R., Tiley, H.C., McCormick, S.P., Vaughan, M.M., Ward, T.J. 2021. Trichothecene NX-3 is required for Fusarium graminearum initial infection and disease spread [abstract].

Rising CO2 more severely impacts FHB moderately resistant HRSW compared to susceptible cultivars - (Abstract Only)
Hay, W.T., Anderson, J.A., Mccormick, S.P., Berhow, M.A., Bowman, M.J., Hojillaevangelist, M.P., Dunn, R.O., Vaughan, M.M. 2021. Rising CO2 more severely impacts FHB moderately resistant HRSW compared to susceptible cultivars. Meeting Abstract. American Society of Plant Biologists: Plant Biology 2021 Worldwide Summit. July 17-19, 2021, Virtual.

Host-induced silencing of a Fusarium graminearum effector enhances wheat resistance to Fusarium Head Blight - (Abstract Only)
Hao, G., Naumann, T.A., Chen, H., Bai, G., Tiley, H.C., McCormick, S.P., Tian, B., Trick, H.N., Kim, H.-S., Proctor, R. 2021. Host-induced silencing of a Fusarium graminearum effector enhances wheat resistance to Fusarium Head Blight. [abstract].