Mycotoxin Profile and Phylogeny of Pathogenic Alternaria Species Isolated from Symptomatic Tomato Plants in Lebanon

The tomato is one of the most consumed agri-food products in Lebanon. Several fungal pathogens, including Alternaria species, can infect tomato plants during the whole growing cycle. Alternaria infections cause severe production and economic losses in field and during storage. In addition, Alternaria species represent a serious toxicological risk since they are able to produce a wide range of mycotoxins, associated with different toxic activities on human and animal health. Several Alternaria species were detected on tomatoes, among which the most important are A. solani, A. alternata, and A. arborescens. A set of 49 Alternaria strains isolated from leaves and stems of diseased tomato plants were characterised by using a polyphasic approach. All strains were included in the recently defined phylogenetic Alternaria section and grouped in three well-separated sub-clades, namely A. alternata (24 out of 49), A. arborescens (12 out of 49), and A. mali morpho-species (12 out of 49). One strain showed high genetic similarity with an A.limoniasperae reference strain. Chemical analyses showed that most of the Alternaria strains, cultured on rice, were able to produce alternariol (AOH), alternariol methyl ether (AME), altenuene (ALT) and tenuazonic acid (TA), with values up to 5634, 16,006, 5156, and 4507 mg kg−1, respectively. In addition, 66% of the strains were able to co-produce simultaneously the four mycotoxins investigated. The pathogenicity test carried out on 10 Alternaria strains, representative of phylogenetic sub-clades, revealed that they were all pathogenic on tomato fruits. No significant difference among strains was observed, although A. alternata and A. arborescens strains were slightly more aggressive than A. mali morpho-species strains. This paper reports new insights on mycotoxin profiles, genetic variability, and pathogenicity of Alternaria species on tomatoes.

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Antifungal Activity of Propyl Disulfide from Neem (Azadirachta indica) in Vapor and Agar Diffusion Assays against Anthracnose Pathogens (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum acutatum) in Mango Fruit

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9040839 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 839

Author(s):

Muhammad Rafiullah Khan ◽

Vanee Chonhenchob ◽

Chongxing Huang ◽

Panitee Suwanamornlert

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Mycelial Growth ◽

Colletotrichum Gloeosporioides ◽

Colletotrichum Acutatum ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

Agar Diffusion ◽

Wide Range ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Diffusion Assay

Microorganisms causing anthracnose diseases have a medium to a high level of resistance to the existing fungicides. This study aimed to investigate neem plant extract (propyl disulfide, PD) as an alternative to the current fungicides against mango’s anthracnose. Microorganisms were isolated from decayed mango and identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum acutatum. Next, a pathogenicity test was conducted and after fulfilling Koch’s postulates, fungi were reisolated from these symptomatic fruits and we thus obtained pure cultures. Then, different concentrations of PD were used against these fungi in vapor and agar diffusion assays. Ethanol and distilled water were served as control treatments. PD significantly (p ≤ 0.05) inhibited more of the mycelial growth of these fungi than both controls. The antifungal activity of PD increased with increasing concentrations. The vapor diffusion assay was more effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of these fungi than the agar diffusion assay. A good fit (R2, 0.950) of the experimental data in the Gompertz growth model and a significant difference in the model parameters, i.e., lag phase (λ), stationary phase (A) and mycelial growth rate, further showed the antifungal efficacy of PD. Therefore, PD could be the best antimicrobial compound against a wide range of microorganisms.

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Assessment of the Potential of Eco-Friendly Nematicides in the Management of Root-Knot Nematodes on French Beans in Kenya

Current Agriculture Research Journal ◽

10.12944/carj.7.1.08 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 62-67

Author(s):

E. O. Ogumo ◽

W. M. Muiru ◽

J. W. Kimenju ◽

D. M. Mukunya

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Potential ◽

Negative Control ◽

French Bean ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Root Knot Nematode ◽

Population Densities ◽

Root Knot Nematodes ◽

French Beans ◽

Wide Range ◽

Significant Difference

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) (Meloidogyne spp) are a serious pest causing heavy economic losses in a wide range of agricultural crops. A trial was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of various eco-friendly nematicides in the management of RKN affecting French bean. The field trial was carried out in two seasons with the following treatments; Rigel-G (salicylic acid), Phyto Protect (Sesame oil extract), Mytech (Paecilomyces lilacinus), Neemraj 0.3% (Azadirachtin), Vydate® (Oxamyl) as a positive control and an untreated control. Various rates; Rigel –G (2.5 ml/l), Phyto Protect (10 l/ha), Mytech (125 g/ha) Neemraj 0.3% (3L/ha) and Vydate® (6 l/ha) of treatments were administered and damage on plants was assessed based on galling indices, crop biomass and yield whereas nematode reproductive potential was assessed based on the J2 counts. There was no significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) in the nematode population densities and galling indices observed among the eco-friendly nematicides and the conventional nematicide (Vydate®). Eco-friendly nematicides had a significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction of RKN J2 population densities compared to the negative control. The negative control had the highest mean of root-knot nematode densities (240 RKN/200 cc soil) and a galling index of 3.77 while Vydate and Neemraj had the lowest mean density (40 RKN/200 cc soil) in the first season. Similar results were observed in the second season with control having the highest RKN J2 population densities (285 RKN/200 cc soil) and a galling index of 3.89 and Vydate had the lowest (23 RKN/200 cc soil). The results of this study clearly indicate that eco-friendly nematicides can be fully adopted to suppress RKN in French beans as alternatives to conventional nematicides.

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Isolation, Molecular Identification and Mycotoxin Profile of Fusarium Species Isolated from Maize Kernels in Iran

Toxins ◽

10.3390/toxins11050297 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 297 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Maryam Fallahi ◽

Hossein Saremi ◽

Mohammad Javan-Nikkhah ◽

Stefania Somma ◽

Miriam Haidukowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Animal Health ◽

Elongation Factor ◽

Ear Rot ◽

Translation Elongation ◽

Wide Range ◽

Severe Reduction ◽

Maize Kernels ◽

High Possibility

Fusarium species are among the most important fungal pathogens of maize, where they cause severe reduction of yield and accumulation of a wide range of harmful mycotoxins in the kernels. In order to identify the Fusarium species and their mycotoxin profiles associated to maize ear rot and kernel contamination in Iran, a wide sampling was carried out from field in ten major maize-producing provinces in Iran, during 2015 and 2016. From 182 samples of maize kernels, 551 strains were isolated and identified as belonging to Fusarium genus. Among the 234 representative strains identified at species level by translation elongation factor (EF-1α) sequences, the main Fusarium species were F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum, together representing 90% of the Iranian Fusarium population, and, to a lesser extent, F. incarnatum equiseti species complex (FIESC), F. thapsinum and F. redolens. Fumonisin (FBs) production by F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum representative strains was analysed, showing that all strains produced FB1. None of F. verticillioides strains produced FB2 nor FB3, while both FB2 and FB3 were produced only by F. proliferatum. Total mean of FBs production by F. verticillioides was higher than F. proliferatum. The occurrence of different Fusarium species on Iranian maize is reason of great concern because of the toxigenic risk associated to these species. Moreover, the diversity of the species identified increases the toxigenic risk associated to Fusarium contaminated maize kernels, because of the high possibility that a multi-toxin contamination can occur with harmful consequences on human and animal health.

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Alternaria Toxins in Wheat during the 2004 to 2005 Argentinean Harvest

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-71.6.1262 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 71 (6) ◽

pp. 1262-1265 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

M. P. AZCARATE ◽

A. PATRIARCA ◽

L. TERMINIELLO ◽

V. FERNÁNDEZ PINTO

Keyword(s):

Monomethyl Ether ◽

Fungal Species ◽

The Other ◽

Natural Occurrence ◽

Tenuazonic Acid ◽

Alternariol Monomethyl Ether ◽

Wide Range ◽

Alternaria Mycotoxins ◽

Alternaria Species ◽

Main Component

The natural occurrence of Alternaria mycotoxins in Argentinean wheat from the zone 5 South during the 2004 to 2005 harvest was investigated in 64 wheat samples. All samples were highly contaminated with a wide range of fungal species. Alternaria was found as the main component of the mycota, with an infection percentage of 100%. Three mycotoxins produced by species of Alternaria were determined in wheat: alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, and tenuazonic acid. Alternariol was detected in 4 (6%) of 64 samples, with a range of 645 to 1,388 μg/kg (mean of 1,054 μg/kg); alternariol monomethyl ether, with a range of 566 to 7,451 μg/kg (mean of 2,118 μg/kg) in 15 (23%) of 64 samples; and tenuazonic acid in 12 (19%) of 64 samples, with a range of 1,001 to 8,814 μg/kg (mean, 2,313 μg/kg). Alternariol monomethyl ether was the predominant toxin, but tenuazonic acid was detected in higher concentrations. Alternariol was present in fewer samples and in lower levels than were the other toxins. Tenuazonic acid and alternariol monomethyl ether occurred together in four samples, while tenuazonic acid and alternariol co-occurred in one sample. This the first report of the natural occurrence of Alternaria mycotoxins in Argentinean wheat. Toxin levels were high, probably due to the heavy infection with Alternaria species found in the samples.

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Optimizing genomic prediction of host resistance to koi herpesvirus disease in carp

10.1101/609784 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Christos Palaiokostas ◽

Tomas Vesely ◽

Martin Kocour ◽

Martin Prchal ◽

Dagmar Pokorova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genomic Selection ◽

Genomic Prediction ◽

Prediction Accuracy ◽

Genetic Relationships ◽

Animal Health ◽

Economic Losses ◽

The European Union ◽

Koi Herpesvirus ◽

Wide Range ◽

Close Relatives

AbstractGenomic selection (GS) is increasingly applied in breeding programmes of major aquaculture species, enabling improved prediction accuracy and genetic gain compared to pedigree-based approaches. Koi Herpesvirus disease (KHVD) is notifiable by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the European Union, causing major economic losses to carp production. Genomic selection has potential to breed carp with improved resistance to KHVD, thereby contributing to disease control. In the current study, Restriction-site Associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) was applied on a population of 1,425 common carp juveniles which had been challenged with Koi herpes virus, followed by sampling of survivors and mortalities. Genomic selection (GS) was tested on a wide range of scenarios by varying both SNP densities and the genetic relationships between training and validation sets. The accuracy of correctly identifying KHVD resistant animals using genomic selection was between 8 and 18 % higher than pedigree best linear unbiased predictor (pBLUP) depending on the tested scenario. Furthermore, minor decreases in prediction accuracy were observed with decreased SNP density. However, the genetic relationship between the training and validation sets was a key factor in the efficacy of genomic prediction of KHVD resistance in carp, with substantially lower prediction accuracy when the relationships between the training and validation sets did not contain close relatives.

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Effect of Micotoxins Treatment on Oxidative Stress, Memory and Anxious Behavior in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.19.3.7005 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 70 (3) ◽

pp. 776-780

Author(s):

Elena Todirascu Ciornea ◽

Gabriela Dumitru ◽

Dragomir Coprean ◽

Tigran Lucian Mandalian ◽

Razvan Stefan Boiangiu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Danio Rerio ◽

Developmental Toxicity ◽

Animal Health ◽

Food Contamination ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Agricultural Crops ◽

Fish Food ◽

Stress Memory ◽

Wide Range ◽

Anxious Behavior

Natural contaminants, especially mycotoxins, pose a challenge since they are found in a wide range of agricultural crops and differ significantly in chemical structure and symptomatology in humans and signs of disease in animals following exposure to these chemical agents. Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by a diverse group of fungi that contaminate agricultural crops prior to harvest or during storage post-harvest and different species including humans, poultry, swine and fish. Food contamination by mycotoxins is a risk to human and animal health being responsible for significant economic losses and can exhibit a broad range of effects including carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity and developmental toxicity. In the present paper was tested the influence of patulin (PAT, 70 mg/L) and kojic acid (KA, 100, 204 and 284 mg/L) on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT and GPX), MDA (lipid peroxidation marker) but also on memory and anxious behavior in the Danio rerio experimental model.

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Screening and Analysis of Anaplasma marginale Tunisian Isolates Reveal the Diversity of lipA Phylogeographic Marker and the Conservation of OmpA Protein Vaccine Candidate

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2021.731200 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Hanène Belkahia ◽

Meriem Ben Abdallah ◽

Rihab Andolsi ◽

Rachid Selmi ◽

Sayed Zamiti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Vaccine Candidate ◽

Animal Health ◽

Anaplasma Marginale ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Protein Vaccine ◽

Phylogeographic Analysis ◽

Wide Range ◽

Ompa Protein ◽

Immunodominant Epitopes

Bovine anaplasmosis caused by Anaplasma marginale is a disease responsible for serious animal health problems and great economic losses all over the world. Thereby, the identification of A. marginale isolates from various bioclimatic areas in each country, the phylogeographic analysis of these isolates based on the most informative markers, and the evaluation of the most promising candidate antigens are crucial steps in developing effective vaccines against a wide range of A. marginale strains. In order to contribute to this challenge, a total of 791 bovine samples from various bioclimatic areas of Tunisia were tested for the occurrence of A. marginale DNA through msp4 gene fragment amplification. Phylogeographic analysis was performed by using lipA and sucB gene analyses, and the genetic relationship with previously characterized A. marginale isolates and strains was analyzed by applying similarity comparison and phylogenetic analysis. To evaluate the conservation of OmpA protein vaccine candidate, almost complete ompA nucleotide sequences were also obtained from Tunisian isolates, and various bioinformatics software were used in order to analyze the physicochemical properties and the secondary and tertiary structures of their deduced proteins and to predict their immunodominant epitopes of B and T cells. A. marginale DNA was detected in 19 bovine samples (2.4%). Risk factor analysis shows that cattle derived from subhumid bioclimatic area were more infected than those that originated from other areas. The analysis of lipA phylogeographic marker indicated a higher diversity of Tunisian A. marginale isolates compared with other available worldwide isolates and strains. Molecular, phylogenetic, and immuno-informatics analyses of the vaccine candidate OmpA protein demonstrated that this antigen and its predicted immunodominant epitopes of B and T cells appear to be highly conserved between Tunisian isolates and compared with isolates from other countries, suggesting that the minimal intraspecific modifications will not affect the potential cross-protective capacity of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against multiple A. marginale worldwide strains.

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Оrganic Meat Production of Broiler Chickens Hubbard Redbro Cross

International Journal of Veterinary Science ◽

10.37422/ijvs/20.072 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Broiler Chickens ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Animal Health ◽

Meat Products ◽

Poultry Meat ◽

Meat Production ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Environmentally Safe ◽

The Impact

This article presents the results of studying the impact of housing and feeding conditions on broiler chickens of Hubbard RedBro cross, as well as the quality of products obtained when using floor and cage content, in a farm. It established that when receiving a mixed feed of own production using feed raw materials grown on a farm without the use of pesticides, a statistically significant decrease in potentially dangerous substances for animal health is recorded. Compared with factory feed, it has reduced the content of pesticides by 14 times, and mercury and arsenic by 24 times, cadmium by five times, and lead by ten times. The results of the study of economic indicators of growing Hubbard RedBro cross broiler chickens, as well as the chemical composition and quality of carcasses, indicated that there was no significant difference between the floor and cell conditions of keeping. Still, the use of a diet based on eco-feeds contributed to a statistically significant decrease in the concentration of toxic metals in the muscles of the poultry of the experimental groups. As a result, it found that the use of the studied compound feed in the diets of broiler chickens increased the indicators of Biosafety and ensured the production of environmentally safe ("organic") poultry meat products.

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The Effectiveness of Candidate Probiotic Bacteria to Control Vibriosis Disease

Aquatic Science and Technology ◽

10.5296/ast.v5i2.11594 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Mulyati Mulyati ◽

Suryati Suryati ◽

Irfani Baga

Keyword(s):

Survival Rate ◽

Sea Water ◽

Challenge Test ◽

Probiotic Bacteria ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

Inhibitory Ability ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Portunid Crab

The study aims to isolate, characterize, and examine probiotic bacteria's inhibitory ability against Vibrio harveyi bacteria, both in-vitro and in vivo. Methods used in the study consist of 1) An Isolation of Candidate Probiotic Bacteria, 2) An Antagonistic Test of Candidate Probiotic Bacteria in vitro, 3) An Identification of Bacteria, 4) A Pathogenicity Test of Candidate Probiotic Bacteria, 5) An Antagonistic Test of Candidate Probiotic Bacteria against V. harveyi in vivo. According to the isolation of candidate probiotic bacteria, there are 18 isolated candidate probiotic. After being tested for its inhibitory ability in vitro, there are 8 isolates with zone of inhibition as follows: isolate MM 7 from intestine (22 mm), isolate MM 6 from intestine (12 mm), isolate MM 10 from sea water (10 mm), isolate MM 5 from intestine (9 mm), isolate MM 4 from intestine (8 mm), isolate MM 3 from intestine (7 mm), isolate MM 2.2 from intestine (7 mm), isolate MM 2.1 from intestine (7 mm). Eight genera of the candidate probiotic bacteria is derived from Portunid crab, they are Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, bacillus, vibrio, Alcaligenes, Lactobacillus, micrococcus. Before proceeding the V. harveyi bacterial challenge test in vivo, three potential isolates consisting of MM6, MM7 and MM10 as the probiotic bacteria are pathogenicity-tested against V. harveyi. The survival rate of Portunid crab on pathogenicity test using MM6, MM7 and MM10 generates 91.11-100%, while the control generates 100% survival rate. Variance analysis result through post-hoc Tukey's Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test at 95% confidence interval indicates that isolate MM7 and MM10 are significantly able to increase hatchling Portunid crab's survival rate.

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Control of Winged Waterprimrose (Jussiaea decurrens) and Northern Jointvetch (Aeschynomene virginica) with Fungal Pathogens

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s0043174500044477 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 27 (5) ◽

pp. 497-501 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

C. D. Boyette ◽

G. E. Templeton ◽

R. J. Smith

Keyword(s):

Oryza Sativa ◽

Glycine Max ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Liquid Culture ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Colletotrichum Gloeosporioides ◽

Pathogenic Fungus ◽

Field Tests ◽

Wide Range ◽

Growing Region

An indigenous, host-specific, pathogenic fungus that parasitizes winged waterprimrose [Jussiaea decurrens(Walt.) DC.] is endemic in the rice growing region of Arkansas. The fungus was isolated and identified asColletotrichum gloeosporioides(Penz.) Sacc. f.sp. jussiaeae(CGJ). It is highly specific for parasitism of winged waterprimrose and not parasitic on creeping waterprimrose (J. repensL. var.glabrescensKtze.), rice (Oryza sativaL.), soybeans [Glycine max(L.) Merr.], cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.), or 4 other crops and 13 other weeds. The fungus was physiologically distinct from C.gloeosporioides(Penz.) Sacc. f. sp.aeschynomene(CGA), an endemic anthracnose pathogen of northern jointvetch[Aeschynomene virginica(L.) B.S.P.], as indicated by cross inoculations of both weeds. Culture in the laboratory and inoculation of winged waterprimrose in greenhouse, growth chamber and field experiments indicated that the pathogen was stable, specific, and virulent in a wide range of environments. The pathogen yielded large quantities of spores in liquid culture. It is suitable for control of winged waterprimrose. Winged waterprimrose and northern jointvetch were controlled in greenhouse and field tests by application of spore mixtures of CGJ and CGA at concentrations of 1 to 2 million spores/ml of each fungus in 94 L/ha of water; the fungi did not damage rice or nontarget crops.

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