ABSTRACTFusarium fujikuroiis a pathogenic fungus that infects rice. It produces several important mycotoxins, such as fumonisins. Fumonisin production has been detected in strains of maize, strawberry, and wheat, whereas it has not been detected in strains from rice seedlings infested with bakanae disease in Japan. We investigated the genetic relationships, pathogenicity, and resistance to a fungicide, thiophanate-methyl (TM), in 51 fumonisin-producing strains and 44 nonproducing strains. Phylogenetic analyses based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers and two specific genes (a combined sequence of translation elongation factor 1α [TEF1α] and RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit [RPB2]) indicated differential clustering between the fumonisin-producing and -nonproducing strains. One of the AFLP markers, EATMCAY107, was specifically present in the fumonisin-producing strains. A specific single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) between the fumonisin-producing and nonproducing strains was also detected inRPB2, in addition to an SNP previously found inTEF1α. Gibberellin production was higher in the nonproducing than in the producing strains according to anin vitroassay, and the nonproducing strains had the strongest pathogenicity with regard to rice seedlings. TM resistance was closely correlated with the cluster of fumonisin-nonproducing strains. The results indicate that intraspecific evolution in JapaneseF. fujikuroiis associated with fumonisin production and pathogenicity. Two subgroups of JapaneseF. fujikuroi, designated G group and F group, were distinguished based on phylogenetic differences and the high production of gibberellin and fumonisin, respectively.IMPORTANCEFusarium fujikuroiis a pathogenic fungus that causes rice bakanae disease. Historically, this pathogen has been known asFusarium moniliforme, along with many other species based on a broad species concept. Gibberellin, which is currently known as a plant hormone, is a virulence factor ofF. fujikuroi. Fumonisin is a carcinogenic mycotoxin posing a serious threat to food and feed safety. Although it has been confirmed thatF. fujikuroiproduces gibberellin and fumonisin, production varies among strains, and individual production has been obscured by the traditional appellation ofF. moniliforme, difficulties in species identification, and variation in the assays used to determine the production of these secondary metabolites. In this study, we discovered two phylogenetic subgroups associated with fumonisin and gibberellin production in JapaneseF. fujikuroi.
Genetic Differentiation Associated with Fumonisin and Gibberellin Production in JapaneseFusarium fujikuroi
