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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #287978
Title: Diversity of the Fusarium complex on French maize

Author
item BALLOIS, NICOLAS - French Agency Of Food Security And Sanitation
item BOUTIGNY, ANNE-LAURE - French Agency Of Food Security And Sanitation
item Ward, Todd
item GOURDAIN, EMMANUELLE - Arvalis Plant Institute
item IOOS, RENAUD - French Agency Of Food Security And Sanitation

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/23/2012
Publication Date: 10/23/2013
Citation: Ballois, N., Boutigny, A., Ward, T.J., Gourdain, E., Ioos, R. 2013. Diversity of the Fusarium complex on French maize. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Ear rot caused by Fusarium species is a major threat to maize production worldwide, causing yield reduction and poor grain quality. In addition, various species of the genus Fusarium can produce mycotoxins, which accumulate in the grain. The distribution and predominance of the different Fusarium species vary depending on year, geographical region, environmental conditions, climatic factors, host genotype, and agricultural practices. The goal of this study was to assess the diversity of Fusarium species isolates from maize in France using EF1 sequencing and multilocus genotype analyses. Members of the F. graminearum species complex (FGSC) accounted for the majority (56.3%) of the 444 Fusarium isolates examined, followed by F. proliferatum (19.4%) and F. poae (10.6%). Among the FGSC isolates, 92% were identified as F. graminearum and 85% had a 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15ADON) chemotype as predicted by multilocus genotype analysis. The nivalenol (NIV chemotype) was found among 17% of FGSC isolates, but was restricted to samples originating in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region. These results constitute a preliminary report of Fusarium species and trichothecene diversity on French maize and will be of use in determining the global distribution and movement of Fusarium cereal pathogens and in assessing the risk to public health and feed safety posed by mycotoxin contamination of grain worldwide.