No abstract

T. M. 1999. Possible role of trichothecene mycotoxins in virulence of Fusarium graminearum on maize. Plant Dis. 83:954-960.

The Tri5 gene encodes trichodiene synthase, which catalyzes the first reaction in the trichothecene biosynthetic pathway. In vitro, a direct relationship was observed between Tri5expression and the increase in deoxynivalenol production over time. We developed a reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assay to quantifyTri5 gene expression in trichothecene-producing strains ofFusarium species. We observed an increase inTri5 expression following treatment of Fusarium culmorum with fungicides, and we also observed an inverse relationship between Tri5 expression and biomass, as measured by β-d-glucuronidase activity, during colonization of wheat (cv. Avalon) seedlings by F. culmorum. RT-PCR analysis also showed that for ears of wheat cv. Avalon inoculated with F. culmorum, there were different levels of Tri5 expression in grain and chaff at later growth stages. We used the Tri5-specific primers to develop a PCR assay to detect trichothecene-producing Fusariumspecies in infected plant material.