Pathogenicity of Fusarium graminearum Chemotypes Towards Corn, Wheat, Triticale and Rye

The pathogenicity of nine Fusarium graminearum isolates belonging to three different trichothecene-producing chemotypes, i.e. NIV + FUS, DON + 3-AcDON, and DON + 15-AcDON was tested on corn, wheat, triticale and rye. Although these compounds are known to have different toxicity, no difference in pathogenicity was observed among the mean values for chemotypes. However, within each chemotype there were isolates with different pathogenicity which was not correlated with the ability to produce trichothecenes in vitro. The pathogenicity of each isolate was almost the same for all tested cereals. The involvement of trichothecenes in pathogenesis was investigated in infected corn stalk tissues. All the expected trichothecenes were detected with the exception of NIV and FUS.