In Serbia, aspergillus ear rot caused by the disease pathogen Aspergillus parasiticus (A. parasiticus) was first detected in 2012 under both field and storage conditions. Global climate shifts, primarily warming, favour the contamination of maize with aflatoxins in temperate climates, including Serbia. A five-year study (2012–2016) comprising of 46 A. parasiticus strains isolated from maize kernels was performed to observe the morphological, molecular, pathogenic, and toxigenic traits of this pathogen. The HPLC method was applied to evaluate mycotoxin concentrations in this causal agent. The A. parasiticus isolates synthesised mainly aflatoxin AFB1 (84.78%). The percentage of isolates synthesising aflatoxin AFG1 (15.22%) was considerably lower. Furthermore, the concentration of AFG1 was higher than that of AFB1 in eight isolates. The polyphase approach, used to characterise isolates, showed that they were A. parasiticus species. This identification was verified by the multiplex RLFP-PCR detection method with the use of restriction enzymes. These results form an excellent baseline for further studies with the aim of application in the production, processing, and storage of cereal grains and seeds, and in technological processes to ensure the safe production of food and feed.
The species of the genus Aspergillus, A. flavus and A. parasiticus, are the most aflatoxin-producing fungi. All previous studies carried out under the production conditions of Serbia showed no presence of A. parasiticus on wheat kernel. On the basis of changes in climatic factors, such as occurrence of high temperatures and prolonged droughts, which favour increased frequency of Aspergillus spp., we assumed that this pathogen can also be present in Serbia. The significance of direct losses as a consequence of wheat kernel infection, as well as potential contamination with aflatoxins, have pointed out to the need to determine the presence of toxigenic potential of A. flavus and A. parasiticus isolates originating from Serbia. For that purpose, wheat kernel samples were collected in nine locations. According to morphological, toxicological and molecular traits of isolated fungi, the presence of A. flavus and A. parasiticus was confirmed. This is the first time that A. parasiticus was identified on wheat under climatic conditions in Serbia. This study indicates that these pathogens may be a potential danger in wheat production in the region of Serbia. This danger will be much more certain if global climatic changes continue as they will provide more intensive development of these pathogens.
The fungus Aspergillus parasiticus produces aflatoxins, the most important group of mycotoxins considering their potential toxicity that may cause cancer in humans. Prevention is the most important and economically most beneficial practice in the reduction of fungal growth and mycotoxin production. Due to that, the development of resistant maize genotypes is the most effective method. The aim of the present study was to analyse the resistance of maize hybrids to pathogenic and toxigenic A. parasiticus isolates originating from maize in Serbia. Hybrids used belong to three FAO maturity groups and showed a high level of resistance to A. parasiticus species. A combination of prevention management strategies and good grain management at harvest can lessen the impact of Aspergillus ear rot on yield and grain quality. [Projects of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR31023 and Grant no. TR31068]
The objective of the present study was to investigate the susceptibility of maize hybrids to the natural mycotoxins contamination: aflatoxin total (AFLA), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenon (ZEA) and fumonisins (FB). Hybrids were grown during two production years (2019 and 2020) in two locations. Mycotoxin contamination of maize grains was evaluated in five sweet maize hybrids. Contamination level of investigated hybrids of first cluster was mainly by below average values of ZEA (all equal to zero) and DON. Hybrids PK4 (S) 2020, PK6 (MS) 2020 and PK4 (MS) 2020 had below average values for AFLA, while remaining treatments of this cluster have mostly elevated values of this mycotoxin. Contamination level of investigated hybrids of second cluster mostly had increased values of mycotoxins ZEA and DON and below average values of AFLA. Samples did not contain fumonisins. Mycotoxin contamination were significantly affected by hybrids and years. We have established that DON and ZEA levels were influenced by the environmental conditions. There were no significant effects of location on the level of AFLA in the sweet maize hybrids. The variation in the properties of mycotoxin content (DON) was significantly influenced by hybrids, and there was no significance of hybrids x location interaction. Differences were more expressed for the content of ZEA and AFLA compared to the content of DON. Hybrid PK1 had the lowest content of DON, while it had the highest content of ZEA. Mycotoxin analyses showed that in all tested hybrids, levels of AFLA, DON, ZEA and FBs were below the maximum permissible levels stipulated by the legislation of the European Union and the Republic of Serbia in maize intended for direct human consumption. These results confirmed that the susceptibility of hybrids is one of the important risks, in addition to climatic factors, for the appearance of toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxins. Genotype tolerance is very important as a preventive measure, which indicates that breeders have to pay attention to it in sweet maize breeding programs.
Fusarium infection and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in seven durum wheat lines kernel (six domestic durum lines ZP 16, ZP 34, ZP 41, ZP 74, ZP 120, ZP DSP 66, and one international durum line Cimmyt 7817) during two harvest seasons (2015-2016) has been studied. The four Fusarium species, F. graminearum, F. proliferatum, F. sporotrichioides, and F. verticillioides, were identified in 2015. A different structure of the Fusarium population, which in addition to F. graminearum, F. sporotrichioides and F. verticillioides, also comprised F. poae, F. semitectum, and F. subglutinans, was identified in 2016. F. graminearum was the predominant species in the durum wheat lines kernels and the potential producer of DON. The other Fusarium spp. were isolated sporadically and with a low incidence in the kernels. The incidence of F. graminearum and DON levels were significantly affected by the wheat genotypes and studied years and these parameters were negatively correlated. The incidence of F. graminearum was significantly higher in 2015 (75.86%) than in 2016 (63.43%), while the level of DON was significantly higher in 2016 (3.636 mg kg-1) compared to 2015 (1.126 mg kg-1). Statistically, there was a significantly higher incidence of F. graminearum in ZP DSP 66 (73.00%) and ZP 120 (72.75%) durum wheat lines than in the other durum genotypes. DON level was the highest in durum wheat line ZP 120 (3.854 mg kg-1). Considering all treatments tested, the mean DON level was 2.381 mg kg-1, while the mean incidence of F. graminearum was 69.64%. ?ested durum wheat lines showed susceptibility to F. graminearum, resulting in high DON levels in kernels. The results obtained suggest the importance of using the lines with improved resistance to Fusarium head blight in the breeding programs for new durum wheat cultivars.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.