Fusarium fujikuroi species complex in Brazilian rice: Unveiling increased phylogenetic diversity and toxigenic potential

Abstract

Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) species are commonly encountered infecting rice, but knowledge of the diversity and toxigenic potential of the species is lacking in Brazil, the largest rice-producing country outside Asia. One hundred FFSC isolates obtained from national rice were identified using morphology and phylogeny of TEF, CAL and TUB genes. Eight previously known and one new phylogenetic species were identified. Three species accounted for around 60% of the strains: F. fujikuroi (n = 23), F. proliferatum (n = 22) and F. verticillioides (n = 16). The less frequent species were F. volatile (n = 8), F. anthophilum (n = 6), F. pseudocircinatum (n = 4), F. sterilihyphosum (n = 2) and F. begoniae (n = 1). The new Fusarium sp. was represented by 18 isolates. All species produced at least one of the analyzed mycotoxins [beauvericin (BEA), fumonisins (FBs), moniliformin (MON) and enniatins (ENNs)]. BEA was produced by all species but F. verticillioides. The FBs (mainly FB1) were produced mostly by F. fujikuroi, F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides. F. begoniae and F. verticillioides did not produce ENNs and F. sterilihyphosum and F. begoniae did no produce MON, while the other species produced MON and ENNs. Our results contribute new knowledge of the diversity, geographical distribution and hosts of FFSC species.

Fungal Diversity and Aflatoxins in Maize and Rice Grains and Cassava-Based Flour (Pupuru) from Ondo State, Nigeria

“…In this study, Fusarium was not recovered from any of the food samples, which agrees with findings from two previous studies conducted in Nigeria on rice [ 2 ] and pupuru [ 12 ]. Conversely, this finding from the present study contradicts other available reports [ 3 , 34 , 39 , 40 ] indicating several Fusarium species in grains, including rice and maize. Penicillium was the second most predominant genus in the food samples, occurring in all the sample types and mostly in maize and pupuru.…”

Fungal Diversity and Aflatoxins in Cereals and Cassava-Based Foods From Ondo State, Nigeria

“…In this study, Fusarium was not recovered from any of the food samples, which agrees with findings from two previous studies conducted in Nigeria on rice [2] and pupuru [12]. Conversely, this finding from the present study contradicts other available reports [3,34,39,40] that reported several Fusarium species in cereals including rice and maize. Penicillium was the second most predominant genus in the food samples, occurring in all the foods and mostly in maize and pupuru.…”

Filamentous Fungi Producing l-Asparaginase with Low Glutaminase Activity Isolated from Brazilian Savanna Soil

“…PCRs were performed using the recommended regions for each genus, i.e., tub 2, ef -1 α , and its for Fusarium [ 42 , 43 ] and tub 2, cam , its and rpb 2 for Penicillium [ 44 ]. PCR was performed with an initial denaturation of 95 °C for 4 min, followed by 35 cycles of 95 °C for 30 s ( its and ef -1 α ) or 94 °C for 1 min ( rpb 2, tub 2 and cam ), annealing at 55 °C ( its ), 58 °C ( ef -1 α ) for 30 s, 47 °C ( rpb 2), 58 °C ( tub 2) or 50 °C ( cam ) for 1 min, initial extension at 72 °C for 30 s ( its ) or 1 min and at 72 °C for 10 min on the final extension.…”

“…The nucleotide sequence datasets were constructed using tub 2 and ef -1 α for Fusarium [ 42 , 43 ], or tub 2, cam , its and rpb 2 for Penicillium [ 44 , 45 ] from the two isolates characterized here, and representative isolates of the Fusarium or Penicillium. To test possible topological incongruences, phylogenetic trees were individually obtained from each genomic region.…”