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Title: FUMONISIN B1-NONPRODUCING STRAINS OF FUSARIUM VERTICILLIOIDES CAUSE MAIZE (ZEA MAYS) EAR INFECTION AND EAR ROT

Author
item Desjardins, Anne
item Plattner, Ronald

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/14/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Fumonisins are a family of toxins that are produced by a fungus that is often found in corn. Consumption of corn with high levels of fumonisins can cause health problems in animals. Human consumption of fumonisins in corn is also a potential concern because fumonisins can cause cancer in laboratory animals. In this study we inoculated corn plants with mutant strains of the fungus that are altered in fumonisin production. We analyzed the fumonisins in kernels from the harvested ears. We found that the mutant fungi can infect the corn plant and can dramatically change the fumonisins that are found in the ear. Thus, it may be possible to use biological control by fumonisin-nonproducing strains to reduce fumonisins in corn.

Technical Abstract: The involvement of fumonisins in virulence on maize was investigated using three mutants of Gibberella fujikuroi mating population A (anamorph Fusarium moniliforme, synonym F. verticillioides) that are blocked at different steps in fumonisin B1 biosynthesis. A fumonisin B2-producing (fum2-) mutant, a fumonisin B3-producing (fum3-) mutant, and a fumonisin-nonproducing (fum1-) mutant were as effective as a fumonisin B1 fumonisin B2 fumonisin B3-producing (wild-type) strain in causing maize ear rot following silk channel inoculation. All of the strains also were able to systemically infect maize following seed inoculation at planting. Levels of fumonisins in kernels from the harvested ears were determined by high performance liquid chromatography, and the distribution of the applied mutants in kernels was determined by analysis of recovered strains for fumonisin production in liquid culture. Analysis of kernels from severely rotted ears confirmed that none of the mutants produced fumonisin B1 and the fum1- mutant produced no detectable fumonisins in planta. This result indicates that production of fumonisin B1, fumonisin B2, or fumonisin B3 does not contribute significantly to the ability of G. fujikuroi mating population A to cause maize ear rot.