Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #331599
Research Project: Genomic and Metabolomic Approaches for Detection and Control of Fusarium, Fumonisins and Other Mycotoxins on Corn

Location: Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research

Title: Genetic diversity of Talaromyces species isolated from maize in North America

Author
item Peterson, Stephen

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/11/2016
Publication Date: 8/11/2016
Citation: Peterson, S.W. 2016. Genetic diversity of Talaromyces species isolated from maize in North America [abstract].

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Talaromyces species isolated from maize in the U.S., primarily between 1970 and 2014 were grown up from lyophilized storage to identify potential seed endophytes. These isolates had been predominantly identified as Penicillium funiculosum following the taxonomic system of Raper & Thom (1949), although a large number were also identified as P. wortmannii, P. variabile, P. diversum, P. pinophilum, P. vermiculatum, T. flavus, and T. purpurogenus. Sequence analysis of the maize isolates revealed significant undescribed genetic and taxonomic diversity. The ability of some Talaromyces isolates to inhibit the growth of other, sometimes pathogenic, fungi have been described. We are interested in the potential inhibition of the toxin producing Fusarium verticillioides growing in maize. Laboratory interaction assays revealed that some Talaromyces species inhibit the growth of Fusarium graminearum and F. verticillioides in vivo. Field tests showed reduction of fumonisin contamination of maize in test plots inoculated with certain Talaromyces isolates. The nature of the Talaromyces and Fusarium interaction is being further studied to reveal how the inhibition functions, trying to find ways to implement this phenomenon in field settings and reduce the fumonisin burden in maize.