Pathogenicity of Fusarium Isolates from Wheat, Rye and Triticale Towards Seedlings and their Ability to Produce Trichothecenes and Zearalenone

37 Fusarium isolates (F. culmorum 20, F. graminearum 4, F. avenaceum 3, F. solani 4, and F. equiseti 6 from wheat, rye and triticale) were examined for pathogenicity and tested for zearalenone (F-2) and trichothecenes production in vitro. Strong pathogens (F. culmorum and F. graminearum) produced deoxynivalenol and 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in considerable quantities.     

Mature Tissue and Crop Canopy Respiratory Characteristics of Rye, Triticale and Wheat

Crop dry matter and its chemical composition, together withcanopy and mature tissue respiration rates were measure at equivalentgrowth stages and temperatures for spring and winter rye, triticaleand wheat crops grown under irrigated field conditions. Canopyrespiration was partitioned into growth and maintenance respirationusing information from the chemical composition analysis ofthe crop biomass. Rates of dry matter accumulation early inthe growing season were significantly greater for rye cropsin comparison to triticale and wheat. However, when dry matterwas measured at similar ontogenetic stages, the productivityadvantage of the rye crop was no longer evident. Nevertheless,canopy respiration rates per unit ground area were significantlylower for rye than wheat over all temperatures and growth stages.Intergeneric differences in the respiration rates of matureleaf and stem tissues were consistent with those measured atcanopy scales. Differences in the chemical composition of thebiomass among genera were minimal, and insufficient to accountfor differences in canopy respiration due to synthesis respirationrequirement. Estimates of biomass maintenance requirements appearto be significantly lower for rye than wheat when calculatedat similar temperatures and ontogenetic stages. The maintenancecoefficient (m) depended on stage of development, suggestingthat m will decline earlier chronologically for rye than wheat,which implies that greater carbon retention is another aspectcontributing to the higher early-season crop growth rates ofspring and winter rye. Considering the lower respiration ratesof mature stems relative to leaves, the dependence of m on stem:leafratio was suggested as a useful approach to modelling ontogeneticeffects on maintenance respiration.Copyright 1993, 1999 AcademicPress Rye, triticale, wheat, dry matter, growth and maintenance respiration     

Fusarium Head Blight Reactions and Accumulation of Deoxynivalenol (DON) and Some of its Derivatives in Kernels of Wheat, Triticale and Rye

Fifty-three commercially grown cultivars and germplasm lines of winter triticale (n = 18), wheat (n = 13), and rye (n = 5) and spring triticale (n = 8), wheat (n = 7) and rye (n = 2) were inoculated at mid anthesis with a spore suspension consisting of a mixture of Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium avenaceum and Fusarium graminearum isolates of known toxinogenic activity. Reactions to Fusarium head blight were measured as disease severity, reductions of kernel number/head, kernel weight/head and 1000 kernel weight, number of Fusarium-damaged kernels and kernel content of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its acetyl-derivatives 3-AcDON, 15-AcDON, and moniliformin. None of the cereal genotypes was completely resistant to Fusarium head blight. Wheat suffered from the largest kernel weight reductions, and accumulated the largest amounts of deoxynivalenol (up to 39.5 mg/kg) and 3AcDON (up to 6.0 mg/kg) in kernels. Deoxynivalenol was not detected in grain samples of winter rye cv. Dańkowskie Z?ote, and spring rye cv. Ludowe. 15-AcDON was only detected in genotypes of triticale, and 3AcDON only in a few genotypes of winter wheat and rye. Moniliformin was detected at low concentrations (up to 0.092 mg/kg) in kernels of some genotypes selected for the mycotoxin analysis. A moderately strong Pearson correlation was found between head blight severity parameters and the accumulation of deoxynivalenol and its derivatives in grain of the cereal genotypes studied. Fusarium head blight severity parameters were correlated with the percentage of Fusarium-damaged kernels and reductions of yield components. However, some head blight-susceptible genotypes realized their potential yields, but accumulated high levels of mycotoxins in kernels. Both Fusarium head blight resistant and susceptible genotypes of the three cereal species accumulated deoxynivalenol in kernels. This finding suggests that the system regulating deoxynivalenol accumulation may be independent of Fusarium head blight reaction.     

Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Content and Activity in Wheat, Rye and Triticale

Photosynthetic parameters were measured in triticale and its parents wheat and rye. Soluble protein content in leaves, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) content per fresh mass, total chlorophyll content, biomass yield, leaf area, leaf mass and specific leaf mass were higher but Rubisco content expressed as percentage of soluble protein, carboxylase activity, photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance were significantly lower in rye than in wheat. Native-PAGE of Rubisco revealed that rye carboxylase was different from that of wheat. The difference was not related to either the small or large subunit of Rubisco but, may be, to the ionic and/or other properties of the Rubisco protein moiety. Triticale Rubisco was similar to wheat. For most of the studied physiological parameters, triticale showed much more similarity with wheat than with rye.     

Estrogenic Metabolite Produced by Fusarium graminearum in Stored Corn

A derivative of resorcinylic acid, produced by the fungus Fusarium graminearum, has been found to be responsible for the estrogenic signs in swine and laboratory rats. An estrogenic response in rats can be incited by injecting intramuscularly as little as 20 mug of the estrogen (F-2). Stimulation in growth of rats was noted at the lower concentrations (20 to 40 mug) of a series. Up to 3,500 ppm of the estrogen was produced on a solid corn medium. The compound is relatively stable to heat and ultraviolet irradiation. Methods of analysis have been developed and include: extraction procedures, evaluations by ultraviolet absorption spectrophotometry, thin-layer chromatography, and gas-liquid chromatography.     

Pathogenicity of Fusarium graminearum Schwabe isolates from Poland towards seedlings of cereal species

Ten isolates ofFusarium graminearum Schwabe originating from diseased cereal plants and kernels were tested for pathogenicity to various cultivars of wheat, rye, triticale and oats. The isolates varied greatly in their pathogenicity to the seedlings of the species, and were most pathogenic to rye and triticale, less pathogenic to barley and wheat and least pathogenic to oats.     

小麦响应禾谷镰刀菌侵染的转录组学研究进展

由禾谷镰刀菌引起的小麦赤霉病直接为害作物穗部,不仅严重影响小麦产量,还可因为毒素污染问题威胁人畜健康。近年来对小麦与禾谷镰刀菌互作的转录组学研究带来了很多新见解,概述了小麦响应禾谷镰刀菌侵染的转录组学研究进展,主要比较了不同抗性品种、不同器官、不同籽粒发育时期的小麦穗部在禾谷镰刀菌侵染时的基因表达特征,总结了赤霉病感染时小麦的激素响应、信号传导、转录调控和防卫相关基因的表达规律,以期促进研究者对小麦响应禾谷镰刀菌侵染规律的理解。     

Growth Analysis of Solution Culture-grown Winter Rye, Wheat and Triticale at Different Relative Rates of Nitrogen Supply

At low nitrogen (N) supply, it is well known that rye has ahigher biomass production than wheat. This study investigateswhether these species differences can be explained by differencesin dry matter and nitrogen partitioning, specific leaf area,specific root length and net assimilation rate, which determineboth N acquisition and carbon assimilation during vegetativegrowth. Winter rye (Secale cereale L.), wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) and triticale (X Triticosecale) were grown in solution cultureat relative addition rates (R_N) of nitrate-N supply rangingfrom 0.03–0.18 d^-1and at non-limiting N supply under controlledconditions. The relative growth rate (R_W) was closely equalto R_Nin the range 0.03–0.15 d^-1. The maximalR_W at non-limitingnitrate nutrition was approx. 0.18 d^-1. The biomass allocationto the roots showed a considerable plasticity but did not differbetween species. There were no interspecific differences ineither net assimilation rate or specific leaf area. Higher accumulationof N in the plant, despite the same relative growth rate atnon-limiting N supplies, suggests that rye has a greater abilityto accumulate reserves of nitrogen. Rye had a higher specificroot length over a wide range of sub-optimal N rates than wheat,especially at extreme N deficiency (R_N=0.03–0.06 d^-1).Triticale had a similar specific root length as that of wheatbut had the ability to accumulate N to the same amount as ryeunder conditions of free N access. It is concluded that thebetter adaptation of rye to low N availability compared to wheatis related to higher specific root length in rye. Additionally,the greater ability to accumulate nitrogen under conditionsof free N access for rye and triticale compared to wheat maybe useful for subsequent N utilization during plant growth.In general, species differences are explained by growth componentsresponsible for nitrogen acquisition rather than carbon assimilation.Copyright 1999 Annals of Botany Company Growth analysis, nitrogen, nitrogen productivity, partitioning, specific root length, Secale cereale L.,Triticum aestivum L., X Triticosecale, winter rye, winter wheat, winter triticale.     

Nivalenol and 15‐acetyldeoxynivalenol Chemotypes of Fusarium graminearum Clade Species are Prevalent on Maize throughout China

Fusarium graminearum clade species are among the main causative agents of Gibberella ear rot (GER) in maize and responsible for the various trichothecene mycotoxins accumulated in contaminated maize grains. In this study, a total of 620 isolates from diseased maize ears collected from 59 districts in 19 provinces throughout China, previously identified morphologically as Fusarium graminearum clade, was genetically characterized at the species level based on SCAR (Sequence Characterized Amplified Region) and for their potential capability of mycotoxin production using the genetic chemotyping assay. The results showed that 359 isolates were F. asiaticum (SCAR 5), which consisted of 97% nivalenol (NIV)‐chemotypes, 0.8% 3‐acetyldeoxynivalenol (3‐ADON)‐producing isolates and 2.2% 15‐acetyldeoxynivalenol (15‐ADON) producers, whereas the remaining 261 isolates were identified as F. graminearum sensu stricto (SCAR 1), all of which produced 15‐ADON mycotoxins. This high proportion of NIV producers present in F. asiaticum is different from the chemotype patterns in F. asiaticum populations isolated from wheat and barley, where DON and its acetylated chemotypes were the predominant mycotoxins. Moreover, the majority of NIV producers (59.1%) and all the 3‐ADON‐producing strains were derived from the warmer regions in southern China, whereas most of the 15‐ADON‐producing strains (78.4%) were isolated from the colder regions in northern China. Our study is the first report of NIV chemotypes of F. asiaticum and 15‐ADON chemotypes of F. graminearum sensu stricto that were associated with the GER of maize in China.     

禾谷镰刀菌蛋白激酶研究进展

由禾谷镰刀菌引起的小麦赤霉病是小麦生产最重要的真菌病害之一,除了造成严重的产量损失外,其病原菌还会产生多种真菌毒素危害人畜健康。蛋白激酶在禾谷镰刀菌生长发育、植物侵染和胁迫应答等方面具有重要作用。综述了禾谷镰刀菌主要蛋白激酶在生物学功能和分子作用机制等方面的研究进展,并对未来禾谷镰刀菌蛋白激酶的研究趋势进行了展望,以期为今后禾谷镰刀菌蛋白激酶的研究与小麦赤霉病的防治提供理论参考。     

Effects of Fusarium graminearum Metabolites on Wheat Tissue in Relation to Fusarium Head Blight Resistance

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat is caused by Fusarium graminearum which produces many secondary metabolites including the trichothecene mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol. Coleoptile tissue segements from 14 spring wheat cultivars were exposed to the F. graminearum metabolites deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, butenolide (all known mycotoxins), sambucinol, culmorin and dihydroxycalonectrin in a bioassay. The tissue of most cultivars was inhibited, at a concentration of 10^?6M by the trichothecenes tested and up to 10^?3M for the other compounds. Deoxynivalenol and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, which affect protein synthesis at the ribosome, are therefore potent phytotoxins in addition to being mycotoxins. The resistance or susceptibility of each cultivar to FHB was established in a field experiment. A comparison of the two sets of data indicated that resistant cultivars could tolerate much higher concentrations of the metabolites tested than susceptible cultivars. Some resistant material can tolerate 10 to 1000 times the concentration of the trichothecenes, compared with susceptible cultivars, with no effect on growth. The data suggest that it may be possible to screen germplasm rapidly for FHB resistance in vitro and a new type of resistance in wheat to this disease is proposed based on the apparent insensitivity to trichothecenes by resistant cultivars, additional to the three types of resistance described in the literature.     

Aggressiveness of Fusarium graminearum sensu stricto Isolates in Wheat Kernels in Argentina

This study was designed to investigate the degree of aggressiveness of Fusarium graminearum sensu stricto isolates and its relationship with trichothecene production. In order to characterize Fusarium strains aggressiveness, disease severity was visually assessed as the percentage of spikelets bleached per ear. The severity ranged from a minimum of 27.19% seven days after inoculation to a maximum of 84.73% at the end of the experiment. At maturity the ears were harvested and threshed for grain weight determination. All treatments showed significant differences in kernel weight with respect to the control plants, with a yield reduction of 35–85% in comparison with the yield of the control. Grains infected by F. graminearum may contain significant levels of mycotoxins like trichothecenes. No correlation was found between aggressiveness and the toxins in the kernels at maturity, taking into consideration not only the quantity but also the type of toxin (nivalenol, deoxynivalenol or their acetylderivatives). Kernel weight reduction was a better estimator of the presence of deoxynivalenol in the kernels than the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) calculated with severity ratings. The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique was used to establish genetic relationships between 18 Argentinean isolates and eight reference strains of the Fusarium graminearum complex. All the isolates studied grouped with the two F. graminearum s. str. reference isolates, with a similarity coefficient greater than 75%. The other reference strains of the F. graminearum complex were clearly separated, with similarities ranging between 55 and 73%. The AFLP groups had no relationship with toxin accumulation on kernels or with the geographical origin of the isolates. Great heterogeneity was found in the AUDPC, yield reduction and toxin accumulation values across the regions.     

Deoxynivalenol-nonproducing Fusarium graminearum Causes Initial Infection,but does not Cause DiseaseSpread in Wheat Spikes

Fusarium graminearum is a major pathogen that causes fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat and produces deoxynivalenol (DON) in infected grain. In previous studies, the trichodiene synthase gene (Tri5) in the fungal strain GZ3639 was disrupted to produce the DON-nonproducing strain GZT40.In this report, the virulence of strains GZ3639 and GZT40 was tested on wheat cultivars with various resistance levels by using methods of spray inoculation and injection inoculation with fungal conidia. Under field and greenhouse conditions, strain GZ3639 produced significantly more disease symptoms and reduced more yield than strain GZT40 in all wheat cultivars tested. Conidia of strain GZT40 germinated and infected inoculated spikelets, but disease symptoms were limited to inoculated spikelets without spread to uninoculated spikelets. When strain GZT40 was inoculated using the spray method, multiple initial infection sites in a spike resulted in higher levels of disease symptoms than in spikes inoculated by a single injection. Greenhouse tests confirmed that strain GZT40 did not produce DON in the infected kernels following either inoculation method. The results confirm that DON production plays a significant role in the spread of FHB within a spike, and are the first report that DON production is not necessary for initial infection by the fungus. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

禾谷镰刀菌粗毒素对不同抗性水平小麦品种细胞膜透性的影响

本实验以抗、感基因型不同的6个小麦品种(系)为材料,系统研究了不同浓度的禾谷镰刀菌粗毒素胁迫处理下小麦品种(系)细胞膜透性随处理时间变化的特性.结果表明:抗、感小麦品种(系)细胞膜对外界毒素胁迫表现出敏感特性,且抗性品种(系)细胞膜对毒素的敏感性小于感病品种(系).在毒素胁迫处理72h内,随毒素处理浓度的增大和胁迫处理时间的延长,细胞膜透性增大,抗病小麦品种(系)的膜透性增量明显小于感病品种(系).胁迫处理72h抗、感小麦品种(系)的膜透性增量达到峰值,抗病品种(系)膜透性增量显著小于感病品种(系),胁迫处理72h后抗、感小麦品种(系)的膜透性增量均降低.可利用禾谷镰刀菌粗毒素胁迫处理72h的细胞膜透性增量评价小麦品种间抗病性的差异,进行抗病性鉴定.     

小麦禾谷镰孢菌茎基腐病抗源的筛选与评价

为了发掘我国小麦种质资源中具有禾谷镰孢菌茎基腐病(crown rot)抗性的材料,采用禾谷镰孢菌苗期接种试验的方法,研究了82份小麦种质对禾谷镰孢菌茎基腐病的抗性.结果表明,在鉴定的材料中没有发现高抗材料;中抗材料13份,占总数的15.8%,包括CI12633、红蚰子、FHB143、Tiszataj和紫秆子等;大多数材料为感病材料.值得注意的是不同小麦材料对禾谷镰孢菌赤霉病和茎基腐病具有不同的抗性水平,两种病害没有正相关性,暗示小麦茎基腐病和赤霉病的抗性机制可能不同,因此,需要广泛挖掘具有茎基腐病抗性的小麦资源.     

PCR detection assays for the trichothecene-producing species Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium poae, Fusarium equiseti and Fusarium sporotrichioides

Contamination of small-grain cereals with the fungal species Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, F. poae, F. sporotrichioides and F. equiseti is an important source of trichothecenes, Zearalenone and other mycotoxins which cause serious diseases in human and animals. Additionally, these species contribute to Fusarium Head Blight, a disease which produces important losses in cereal yield. Early detection and control of these Fusarium species is crucial to prevent toxins entering the food chain and a useful tool in disease management practices. We describe the development of specific PCR assays to F. graminearum, F. culmorum, F. poae, F. sporotrichioides and F. equiseti using DNA from pure fungal cultures as well as from naturally infected wheat seeds, using in this case a rapid and easy protocol for DNA isolation. The specific primers were designed on the basis of IGS sequences (Intergenic Spacer of rDNA), a multicopy region in the genome that permits to enhance the sensitivity of the assay in comparison with PCR assays based on single-copy sequences.