Wall Structure and spore Germination in Fusarium culmorum

The conidial and germ-tube walls of Fusarium culmorum (W. G.Smith) Sacc. have been examined by various chemical and electron-microscopetechniques. On the basis of these results and hypothesis isproposed for the organization of these walls. Microchemicaltests indicate the presence of chitin in the walls and suggestthat the mucilaginous layer around the conidium is mainly composedof xylan. Chemical analyses of isolated wall material confirmthe presence of chitin constituents in the wall, and a rylanlayer around the conidium. Furthermore, the wall contains apolypeptide moiety which has a different amino acid compositionfrom the rest of the protein of the cell. Electron microscopestudies of replicas and sections of conidia, germ tubes, andhyphae reveal a layered structure for the wall. The centrallayer is non-microfibrillar and is overlaid on both sides witha layer of randomly orientated microfibrils. The mucilaginouslayer of the conidium obscures the microfibrillar structurebeneath it unless the mucilage is removed by hydrolysis. Theproblem of hyphal growth is discussed on the basis of the structureof germ-tube tips and mature hyphae observed.     

Ribosomal Competence and Spore Germination in Fusarium solani

Extracts prepared from macroconidia of Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli are capable, under defined conditions, of incorporating phenylalanine into polypeptide with exogenous polyuridylic acid as messenger. Extracts from ungerminated and germinated spores have approximately the same activity. With endogenous template, leucine incorporation occurs, but in this reaction extracts from germinated spores have about 10 times more activity than do those from ungerminated spores. It is suggested that the low rate in ungerminated spores is attributable to a relative deficiency in the number of ribosomes which are organized into polysomes.     

Spore Fine Structure in Clostridium cochlearium

The fine structure of Clostridium cochlearium was examined by use of thin sections, negative stains, and carbon replicas. Particular attention was given to details of the sporulation process and to fine structure of the spores. Spore coat formation was well advanced before the first evidence of cortex formation was noted. Three distinct spore coats were detected, the outermost of which was composed of seven layers. In addition, the spores possessed tubular appendages of variable length attached to one end of the spore. These differed in a number of respects from those described for other clostridia.     

Fine Structure of the Bacillus thuringiensis Spore

The thin-sectioned spore of Bacillus thuringiensis resembles that of Bacillus cereus in fine structure. Planar inclusions occur between the exosporium and spore coat and are structured differently from the parasporal crystal outside the exosporium.     

Formation of moniliformin by Fusarium sporotrichioides and Fusarium culmorum

Two strains of Fusarium sporotrichioides and one strain of F. culmorum were shown to produce the mycotoxin moniliformin in rice culture. Identification was by reverse-phase liquid chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and mass spectrometry.     

Taxonomic Implications of Spore Fine Structure in Clostridium bifermentans

Thirty-five strains of Clostridium bifermentans were, in most part, culturally homogeneous by conventional taxonomic criteria but were heterogeneous with respect to spore fine structure. Fourteen of the strains produced spores with appendages, distributed among four distinct ultrastructural types. No consistent correlation existed between spore type and other variable properties of these strains. It is proposed, therefore, that these spore appendage-type strains be considered as "varieties" of C. bifermentans and that they should not be designated as new species.     

Formation of moniliformin by Fusarium sporotrichioides and Fusarium culmorum.

Two strains of Fusarium sporotrichioides and one strain of F. culmorum were shown to produce the mycotoxin moniliformin in rice culture. Identification was by reverse-phase liquid chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and mass spectrometry.     

Structure determination and biosynthesis of a novel metabolite of Fusarium culmorum, apotrichodiol

A novel dead-end metabolite of Fusarium culmorum was isolated and characterized (Zamir, L. O., and Devor, K. A. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 15348-15353). This 3 alpha, 13-dihydroxy-apotrichothec-9-ene is herein given the trivial name of apotrichodiol to indicate its basic structure. The characterization of apotrichodiol was established through the application of spectroscopic techniques (ultraviolet, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, COSY, and DEPT experiments) on the natural product as well as on its diacetate derivative. The mode of folding of its precursor farnesyl pyrophosphate was derived from feeding experiments with 3,4-[13C2]mevalonolactone. 13C-NMR assignments were also made of 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol and sambucinol which were derived from these feedings with enriched mevalonolactone.     

Response to Fusarium culmorum inoculation in barley

In field tests replicated in 2004 and 2005, 32 cultivars of spring barley were assessed for resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) by single floret inoculation and spray inoculation with Fusarium culmorum (W. G. Smith) Sacc. It was found that the weather conditions in individual years affect to a large extent the progression of FHB and production of mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON). At the same time, in both years the cultivars reacted to F. culmorum infection similarly with respect to areas under disease progress curve (AUDPC) values and content of mycotoxin DON. Spraying inoculation led to stronger infection. The biggest differences in AUDPC values were observed between the cultivars Brise and Celinka, and weak reaction was found in the cultivars Kompakt and Madonna. The cultivars Kompakt and Tolar were most resistant towards FHB. In both monitored years the variety Ludan contained the lowest amounts of mycotoxin DON. Cultivars with high infection and low DON content (r = 0.78) showed weak positive relationship between resistance to FBH and accumulation of DON (concentration 70–200 mg/kg). This is the first information on FHB and in vivo concentrations of DON in certificated barley cultivars in Slovakia.     

Transformations of steroid esters by Fusarium culmorum

The course of transformations of the pharmacological steroids: testosterone propionate, 4-chlorotestosterone acetate, 17beta-estradiol diacetate and their parent alcohols in Fusarium culmorum AM282 culture was compared. The results show that this microorganism is capable of regioselective hydrolysis of ester bonds. Only 4-ene-3-oxo steroid esters were hydrolyzed at C-17. 17beta-Estradiol diacetate underwent regioselective hydrolysis at C-3 and as a result, estrone--the main metabolite of estradiol--was absent in the reaction mixture. The alcohols resulting from the hydrolysis underwent oxidation at C-17 and hydroxylation. The same products (6beta- and 15alpha-hydroxy derivatives) as from testosterone were formed by transformation of testosterone propionate, but the quantitative composition of the mixtures obtained after transformations of both substrates showed differences. The 15alpha-hydroxy derivatives were obtained from the ester in considerably higher yield than from the parent alcohol. The presence of the chlorine atom at C-4 markedly reduced 17beta-saponification in 4-chlorotestosterone acetate. Only 3beta,15alpha-dihydroxy-4alpha-chloro-5alpha-androstan-17-one (the main product of transformation of 4-chlorotestosterone) was identified in the reaction mixture. 6beta-Hydroxy-4-chloroandrostenedione, which was formed from 4-chlorotestosterone, was not detected in the extract obtained after conversion of its ester.     

Evaluation of Spring and Winter Wheat Reaction to Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium avenaceum

Winter (37), spring (8) wheat accessions and additionally, 7 double haploid (DH) lines were examined for susceptibility to Fusarium seedling blight after inoculation with F. culmorum and F. avenaceum. Winter accessions exhibited lower susceptibility of about 30% to both pathogens than spring cultivars. Susceptibility of winter cultivars varied from low (22%) to high (97%). Evaluation of the root was found to be more reliable than evaluation of coleoptile necrosis.
F. avenaceum infected mostly root and, to a lesser extent, coleoptile and leaves, with about a three times lower disease score of coleoptile against root. F. culmorum caused a 1.5 higher disease score on root than on coleoptile. Susceptibility of DH lines was different from susceptibility of parental forms. Reaction of individual accessions to F. culmorum and F. avenaceum was different.     

A serological investigation of hyphal growth in Fusarium culmorum

Summary Apical growth of hyphae of Fusarium culmorum was demonstrated using an immunofluorescent labelling technique. An antiserum prepared against hyphal tips contained a series of antibodies, detected by immunodiffusion, not present in antisera against mature hyphae or conidia. Absorption of the tip antiserum with hyphae allowed a specific immunofluorescence reaction with hyphal tips only. The antiserum against mature hyphae gave non-fluorescent tips to the hyphae.     

Comparison of Fusarium acuminatum and Fusarium culmorum isolates by means of tandem-crossed immunoelectrophoresis

F. acuminatum and F. culmorum strains were compared by means of tandemcrossed immunoelectrophoresis in order to estimate the possiblities of serological classification in Fusarium sections Gibbosum and Discolor. On the basis of qualitative similarity the two species could be distinguished well. By the use of anti-F. acuminatum serum a similarity of S_SM=0.52 was found between F. acuminatum and F. culmorum, but the S_SM coefficient reached a value of 0.67 when the anti-F. culmorum serum was tested. This asymmetric nature of the qualitative similarity is discussed. In the majority of cases the quantitative differences of the common antigens did not allow differentiation between the species.     

Production and secretion of 5-n-alkylresorcinols by Fusarium culmorum

Fusarium culmorum F1 was found to produce and secrete into the culture medium several of 5-n-alkylresorcinols. The amount of resorcinolic lipids was 5.3 microg/g and 0.9 microg/l in mycelium and in post-culture liquid, respectively. First of all F. culmorum F1 produces saturated homologues with C15 to C25 side chains. The extract from the medium contained only homologues with shorter carbon chains (C13 to C17).     

Extracellular proteinases from the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium culmorum

The growth of Fusarium culmorum fungus on a medium containing thermostable proteins from potato tubers was accompanied by the production of proteinases, exhibiting activity over a broad pH range (from 6.0-10.0). When studied by SDS-PAGE in the presence of beta-mercaptoethanol, extracellular proteinases were represented by at least five species with a molecular weight of 30-60 kDa. Inhibitor analysis and studies of enzyme activities with synthetic substrates demonstrated that the culture liquid of Fusarium culmorum contained serine proteinases of various classes. The amount of subtilisin-like proteinases was the highest. A near-complete inhibition of the enzymes was caused by proteinaceous proteinase inhibitors from potato tubers. These data suggest that proteinases of the phytopathogen Fusarium culmorum serve as a metabolic target for natural inhibitors of potato proteinases.     

Development and relations of Fusarium culmorum and Pseudomonas fluorescens in soil

The development of Fusarium culmorum and Pseudomonas fluorescens in soil, and the relations between them, were studied using membrane filters containing the fungus, the bacterium, or both microorganisms; the filters were incubated in soil. F. culmorum was identified by indirect immunofluorescence: the GUS-labeled strain was used to visualize P. fluorescens. It was found that F. culmorum introduced in soil can develop as a saprotroph, with the formation of mycelium, macroconidia, and a small amount of chlamydospores. Introduction of glucose and cellulose resulted in increased density of the F. culmorum mycelium and macroconidia. P. fluorescens suppressed development of F. culmorum mycelium in soil but stimulated formation of fungal chlamydospores. Decreased mycelial density in the presence of P. fluorescens was more pronounced in unsupplemented soil and less pronounced when glucose or cellulose was intiodaced. F. culmorum had no significant effect on P. fluorescens growth in soil.     

Extracellular proteinases from the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium culmorum

The growth of Fusarium culmorum fungus on a medium containing thermostable proteins from potato tubers was accompanied by the production of proteinases, exhibiting activity over a broad pH range (from 6.0–10.0). When studied by SDS-PAGE in the presence of β-mercaptoethanol, extracellular proteinases were represented by at least five species with a molecular weight of 30–60 kDa. Inhibitor analysis and studies of enzyme activities with synthetic substrates demonstrated that the culture liquid of Fusarium culmorum contained serine proteinases of various classes. The amount of subtilisin-like proteinases was the highest. A near-complete inhibition of the enzymes was caused by proteinaceous proteinase inhibitors from potato tubers. These data suggest that proteinases of the phytopathogen Fusarium culmorum serve as a metabolic target for natural inhibitors of potato proteinases.