Author
 |
Plattner, Ronald |
|
Submitted to: Panamerican Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 9/7/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Fungi in the genus Fusarium are ubiquitous in agricultural fields and soil debris and are frequently found in cultivated corn and wheat in the USA. F. graminearum and several closely related species infect wheat and other small grains causing a disease known as Fusarium head blight or head scab. This disease occurs in most areas of the world in which small grain cereals are grown. Head scab epidemics occur sporadically and are usually associated with warm temperatures and wet weather at the time of anthesis. In addition to yield loss associated with blighted grain heads, the fungi also produce toxins, primarily trichothecenes, that are harmful to animals who consume contaminated grains and pose a health threat to the human population. We have recently discovered that the genes for much of the production of trichothecenes are in a cluster. Presently, eight of these genes have been identified. One of these genes, Tri5, codes for the enzyme trichodiene synthase, which converts trans,trans farnesyl pyrophosphate to trichodiene, the first committed step in the trichothecene pathway. Our research has recently used molecular techniques to disrupt this gene and knock out the ability to produce trichothecenes in several strains of Fusarium including F. graminearum. Growth chamber and field studies have demonstrated that while the ability to produce trichothecenes is not required for plant infection, it is a virulence factor for this fungus on wheat. When infected with strains that cannot produce trichothecenes, wheat shows dramatically lowered disease levels. |
