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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 #342618
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: Utilization of high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for characterization of 8-O-methylbostrycoidin production by species of the fungus Fusarium

Author
item Busman, Mark

Submitted to: The Journal of Fungi
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2017
Publication Date: 7/25/2017
Citation: Busman, M. 2017. Utilization of high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for characterization of 8-O-methylbostrycoidin production by species of the fungus Fusarium. The Journal of Fungi. doi: 10.3390/jof3030044.

Interpretive Summary: A technique was developed to determine levels of 8-O-methylbostrycoidin from corn. 8-O-methylbostrycoidin is a deeply colored toxin produced by a variety of fungi during their infestation of growing corn kernels. While it has been shown to have potential as an antibiotic, 8-O-methylbostrycoidin belongs to a class of compounds with high toxicities in lab animals. The analytical technique is based on the coupling of liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. The procedure allows the sensitive detection of 8-O-methylbostrycoidin from corn samples without extensive sample preparation steps. Unlike the present technique, previously developed techniques for detection of the compound were susceptible to interferences from other highly colored fungal metabolites. This work provides an analytical tool to grain processors seeking to assure the safety of corn-based foods and animal feed.

Technical Abstract: The pigment, 8-O-methylbostrycoidin is a polyketide metabolite produced by multiple species of the fungus Fusarium that infects plant crops, including maize. A technique was developed for the analysis of 8-O-methylbostrycoidin by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The quantitative nature of the LC-MS/MS experiment was demonstrated over a range of concentrations in maize. Limits of detection for the method were shown, and susceptibility of the method to matrix effects from maize was also evaluated. The method was applied to evaluate the ability of the maize pathogen Fusarium verticillioides to produce 8-O-methylbostrycoidin in developing maize ears grown in an agricultural field.