Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Cereal Disease Lab » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #364876
Research Project: Fusarium Head Blight of Cereals: Pathogen Biology, Associated Phytobiome, and Host Resistance

Location: Cereal Disease Lab

Title: Fusarium graminearum trichothecene mycotoxins: biosynthesis, regulation, and management

Author
item CHEN, YUN - Zhejiang University
item Kistler, Harold
item MA, ZHONGHUA - Zhejiang University

Submitted to: Annual Review of Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2019
Publication Date: 8/1/2020
Citation: Chen, Y., Kistler, H.C., Ma, Z. 2020. Fusarium graminearum trichothecene mycotoxins: biosynthesis, regulation, and management. Annual Review of Phytopathology. 57:15-39. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-phyto-082718-100318.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-phyto-082718-100318

Interpretive Summary: Based on the economic importance of the wheat and barley disease known as Fusarium head blight, the fungus that causes the disease has been considered as one of the top 10 fungal plant pathogens worldwide. Over the last 30 years, the ability of the fungus to contaminate grains with harmful mycotoxins has been extensively investigated. During this time, the availability of the complete genome sequence and the development of molecular genetic tools for study of the fungus have led to a better understanding of the comprehensive regulation of its harmful mycotoxins and the ability of the fungus to cause disease. This review elucidates our current knowledge of the biosynthetic circuitry, as well as the genetic control of mycotoxin production in the Fusarium fungus. In addition, current and future approaches to controlling mycotoxin contamination are discussed.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium head blight (FHB) of small grain cereals caused by Fusarium graminearum and other Fusarium species is an economically important plant disease worldwide. Fusarium infections not only result in severe yield losses, but also contaminate grain with various mycotoxins, especially deoxynivalenol (DON). During the past two decades, with the complete genome sequencing of F. graminearum, tremendous progress has been made in understanding the basis for DON biosynthesis and its regulation. Here, we summarize current understanding of DON biosynthesis and the effect of regulators, signal transduction pathways, and epigenetic modifications on the expression of biosynthetic TRI genes and on DON production. In addition, strategies for controlling FHB and DON contamination are reviewed. Further studies on these biosynthetic and regulatory systems will provide useful knowledge in developing novel management strategies to prevent FHB incidence and mycotoxin accumulation in cereals.