Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Toxicology & Mycotoxin Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #298239
Title: Genomic and biochemical characterization of cyclic lipopeptides of Bacillus mojavensis RRC101, an antagonist of Fusarium verticillioides

Author
item BLACUTT, ALEX - University Of Georgia
item Gold, Scott
item Mitchell, Trevor

Submitted to: Phytopathology Supplement; APSnet (Plant Pathology Online)
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2013
Publication Date: 6/15/2013
Citation: Blacutt, A.A., Gold, S.E., Mitchell, T.R. 2013. Genomic and biochemical characterization of cyclic lipopeptides of Bacillus mojavensis RRC101, an antagonist of Fusarium verticillioides [abstract]. Phtopathology 103(Suppl. 2):S2.16. DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-103-6-S2.16

Interpretive Summary: Abstract - no summary required.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium verticillioides is an ubiquitous, mycotoxigenic maize pathogen alternately persisting as an asymptomatic endophyte. Consumption of fumonisins, the main class of mycotoxins produced by F. verticillioides in maize kernels, causes severe livestock diseases. Additionally, human consumption of high levels of fumonisins is associated with cancer and birth defects. The complex association between maize and F. verticillioides makes fungicide-based control cost prohibitive and impractical. The bacterium Bacillus mojavensis is closely related to B. subtilis and has been isolated from diverse environments including desert soils and ocean water. B. mojavensis strain RRC 101, isolated from surface-disinfested maize kernels, demonstrates in vitro antifungal activity against F. verticillioides, with maize co-inoculation studies reporting reduced disease severity and diminished fumonisin contamination. Whole genome shotgun sequencing of RRC 101 indicates that, like other antifungal Bacillus species, B. mojavensis produces lipopeptide-class compounds, namely of the surfactin and fengycin families. In addition to genomic description of the secondary metabolite repertoire of this strain, progress on biochemical HPLC/MS based characterization of antifungal compounds isolated from culture supernatants will be reported.