Fumonisin Production by Fusarium verticillioides in Maize Genotypes Cultivated in Different Environments

Abstract

Fumonisins are mycotoxins (MTs) produced mainly by the fungus Fusarium verticillioides, the main pathogens of maize which cause ear rot. The aim of this work was to evaluate some factors that may lead to high fumonisin production by F. verticillioides in maize grains, correlating the pathogen inoculation method with different genotypes grown in four Brazilian states. Experiments were conducted in 2015–2016 in maize crops from experimental maize fields located in four distinct states of Brazil. Results showed that contamination by fumonisin mycotoxins occurred even on symptomatic or asymptomatic grains. In all municipalities, the samples showed levels of fumonisin B1 that were higher than would be tolerable for the human consumption of corn products (the current tolerance limit for fumonisin is 1.5 μg g−1). High severity of grains infected with F. verticillioides does not always show high concentrations of fumonisins. Environments with higher temperatures may influence the production of high concentrations of fumonisin in maize hybrids. Spray inoculation methods and inoculation at the center of spikes did not influence fumonisin concentrations. Results showed that the hybrids P3630H, P32R48 and P3250 presented higher disease severity, as well as higher mycotoxin levels in the studied locations with higher temperatures.

Fungal diversity and metabolomic profiles in GM and isogenic non-GM maize cultivars from Brazil

“…The results suggest that other environmental parameters could possibly trigger fumonisin production during plant development in the field. Junior et al (2019) correlated the presence of fumonisins in maize with other factors such as the type of hybrid and environment in four different states of Brazil. It showed that high severity of grains infected with F. verticillioides does not always result in more fumonisins.…”

Fusarium volatile, a new potential pathogen from a human respiratory sample

“…The voucher strain CBS 143874 of F. volatile clusters as a sister clade to F. coicis and F. verticillioides, the latter species being known to be capable of causing human infection (Al-Hatmi et al 2016b). Fusarium verticillioides is an important producer of mycotoxins, including fumonisins (Leslie & Summerell 2006, Rosa Junior et al 2019; these toxins are highly detrimental to animals and are suspected to be responsible for acute and chronic human diseases (Leslie & Summerell 2006). In contrast, F. coicis is known only from Coix gasteenii (Poaceae), a rare Australian grass species, while no human infection or toxin production has been reported.…”

Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides Interaction: Modeling the Impact on Mycotoxin Production

“…In proper environmental and storage conditions, fungi present in maize grains may produce different mycotoxins, frequently co-occurring, which can induce toxic responses in humans and animals after ingestion (Grenier and Oswald, 2011; Queiroz et al, 2012). The primary mycotoxins occurring in maize worldwide are aflatoxins (AFs) and fumonisins (FBs) (Abbott, 2013; Rodrigues and Naehrer, 2013; Giorni et al, 2016), with Aspergillus flavus ( Af ) and Fusarium verticillioides ( Fv ) as main producers, respectively (Vaamonde et al, 2003; Rosa Junior et al, 2019). Considering the potential risk associated with the presence of a single mycotoxin, the co-occurrence of these two mycotoxins can cause additive/interactive effects and somehow modify their toxicity to humans and animals in a not well-defined manner (Abbès et al, 2016).…”