Incidence and multiplex PCR based detection of trichothecene chemotypes of Fusarium culmorum isolates collected from freshly harvested Maize kernels in Southern India

Abstract

Hundred Fusarium culmorum strains, isolated from freshly harvested maize grain samples from Southern parts of India, were incubated in czapek-dox medium and analyzed for trichothecene (DON/NIV) production. The mPCR assay was standardized targeting trichothecene metabolic pathway genes viz., Tri6, Tri7, Tri13 for detection of trichothecene (DON/NIV) chemotypes and rDNA gene for specific detection of F. culmorum species. Primers for targeted genes were designed and used to predict whether these isolates could produce deoxynivalenol/nivalenol, 94 isolates were able to produce DON/NIV by mPCR assay. Chemical analysis of DON/NIV was carried out for mPCR positive isolates by high performance-thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). To check the practical usefulness of developed mPCR assay, 150 field samples of maize were evaluated and results were compared with conventional HPTLC method. Out of 150 samples, 34% samples stayed as a positive for NIV contamination whereas 44% were found to have deoxynivalenol contamination. Moreover, mPCR results are equivocally matched with the HPTLC chemical analysis for field samples. Chemotyping of F. culmorum isolates were reported for the first time from India, and highlights the important potential of F. culmorum to contaminate maize with DON/NIV.

Antifungal and Zearalenone Inhibitory Activity of Pediococcus pentosaceus Isolated from Dairy Products on Fusarium graminearum

“…Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of filamentous fungi and predominantly produced by Aspergillus , Penicillium , and Fusarium species ( Venkataramana et al, 2013 , 2014 ; Priyanka et al, 2014 ). The fungal infestation of agricultural commodities usually occurs during pre and post-harvesting sessions as a result of improper handling, transportation and storage practices ( Morgavi et al, 2007 ).…”

Investigation of diversity and dominance of fungal biota in stored wheat grains from governmental warehouses in West Bengal, India

“…Molecular detection of different fungal strains in food products based on amplification of toxin genes by PCR using species specific primers have been used by several authors. [25][26][27] To determine the toxin biosynthesis potential of the isolated Aspergillus, its nor-1 gene, which codes for norsolorinic acid, an intermediate in the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway 28 was amplified by PCR using NOR1F (5 ′ -ACCGCTACGCCGGCACTCTCGGCAC-3 ′ ) and NOR1R (5 ′ -GTTGGCCGCCAGCTTCGACACTCCG-3 ′ ) primers. 29 The amplicon (400 bp) was visualized under UV light after electrophoresis on 1.5% agarose gel and stained with ethidium bromide.…”