scholarly journals Glycosyltransferase FvCpsA Regulates Fumonisin Biosynthesis and Virulence in Fusarium verticillioides

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 718
Author(s):  
Qi Deng ◽  
Hanxiang Wu ◽  
Qin Gu ◽  
Guangfei Tang ◽  
Wende Liu

Fusarium verticillioides is the major maize pathogen associated with ear rot and stalk rot worldwide. Fumonisin B1 (FB1) produced by F. verticillioides, poses a serious threat to human and animal health. However, our understanding of FB1 synthesis and virulence mechanism in this fungus is still very limited. Glycosylation catalyzed by glycosyltransferases (GTs) has been identified as contributing to fungal infection and secondary metabolism synthesis. In this study, a family 2 glycosyltransferase, FvCpsA, was identified and characterized in F. verticillioides. ΔFvcpsA exhibited significant defects in vegetative growth. Moreover, ΔFvcpsA also increased resistance to osmotic and cell wall stress agents. In addition, expression levels of FUM genes involved in FB1 production were greatly up-regulated in ΔFvcpsA. HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) analysis revealed that ΔFvcpsA significantly increased FB1 production. Interestingly, we found that the deletion of FvCPSA showed penetration defects on cellophane membrane, and thus led to obvious defects in pathogenicity. Characterization of FvCpsA domain experiments showed that conserved DXD and QXXRW domains were vital for the biological functions of FvCpsA. Taken together, our results indicate that FvCpsA is critical for fungal growth, FB1 biosynthesis and virulence in F. verticillioides.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huijuan Yan ◽  
Won Bo Shim

SummaryFusarium verticillioides is a fungal pathogen that is responsible for maize ear rot and stalk rot diseases worldwide. The fungus also produces carcinogenic mycotoxins, fumonisins, on infested maize. Unfortunately, we still lack clear understanding of how the pathogen responds to host and environmental stimuli to trigger fumonisin biosynthesis. The heterotrimeric G protein complex, consisting of canonical Gα, Gβ, and Gγ subunits, is involved in transducing signals from external stimuli to regulate downstream signal transduction pathways. Previously, we demonstrated that Gβ protein FvGbb1 has direct impact on fumonisin regulation but no other physiological aspects in F. verticillioides. In this study, we identified and characterized a putative receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) homolog FvGbb2 as a putative Gβ-like protein in F. verticillioides. The mutant exhibited severe defects not only in fumonisin biosynthesis but also vegetative growth and conidiation. FvGbb2 was positively associated with carbon source utilization and stress agents but negatively regulated general amino acid control. While FvGbb2 does not interact with canonical G protein subunits, it may interact with diverse proteins in the cytoplasm to regulate vegetative growth, virulence, fumonisin biosynthesis, and stress response in F. verticillioides.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2435
Author(s):  
Marzia Beccaccioli ◽  
Manuel Salustri ◽  
Valeria Scala ◽  
Matteo Ludovici ◽  
Andrea Cacciotti ◽  
...  

Fusarium verticillioides causes multiple diseases of Zea mays (maize) including ear and seedling rots, contaminates seeds and seed products worldwide with toxic chemicals called fumonisins. The role of fumonisins in disease is unclear because, although they are not required for ear rot, they are required for seedling diseases. Disease symptoms may be due to the ability of fumonisins to inhibit ceramide synthase activity, the expected cause of lipids (fatty acids, oxylipins, and sphingolipids) alteration in infected plants. In this study, we explored the impact of fumonisins on fatty acid, oxylipin, and sphingolipid levels in planta and how these changes affect F. verticillioides growth in maize. The identity and levels of principal fatty acids, oxylipins, and over 50 sphingolipids were evaluated by chromatography followed by mass spectrometry in maize infected with an F. verticillioides fumonisin-producing wild-type strain and a fumonisin-deficient mutant, after different periods of growth. Plant hormones associated with defense responses, i.e., salicylic and jasmonic acid, were also evaluated. We suggest that fumonisins produced by F. verticillioides alter maize lipid metabolism, which help switch fungal growth from a relatively harmless endophyte to a destructive necrotroph.


2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. M. Showkath Babu ◽  
H. C. Lohithaswa ◽  
N. Mallikarjuna ◽  
Anand Pandravada ◽  
D. C. Balasundara

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ladi Peter Mshelia ◽  
Jinap Selamat ◽  
Nik Iskandar Putra Samsudin ◽  
Mohd Y. Rafii ◽  
Noor-Azira Abdul Mutalib ◽  
...  

Climate change is primarily manifested by elevated temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and is projected to provide suitable cultivation grounds for pests and pathogens in the otherwise unsuitable regions. The impacts of climate change have been predicted in many parts of the world, which could threaten global food safety and food security. The aim of the present work was therefore to examine the interacting effects of water activity (aw) (0.92, 0.95, 0.98 aw), CO2 (400, 800, 1200 ppm) and temperature (30, 35 °C and 30, 33 °C for Fusarium verticillioides and F. graminearum, respectively) on fungal growth and mycotoxin production of acclimatised isolates of F. verticillioides and F. graminearum isolated from maize. To determine fungal growth, the colony diameters were measured on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. The mycotoxins produced were quantified using a quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer (QTOF-MS) combined with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) system. For F. verticillioides, the optimum conditions for growth of fumonisin B1 (FB1), and fumonisin B2 (FB2) were 30 °C + 0.98 aw + 400 ppm CO2. These conditions were also optimum for F. graminearum growth, and zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) production. Since 30 °C and 400 ppm CO2 were the baseline treatments, it was hence concluded that the elevated temperature and CO2 levels tested did not seem to significantly impact fungal growth and mycotoxin production of acclimatised Fusarium isolates. To the best of our knowledge thus far, the present work described for the first time the effects of simulated climate change conditions on fungal growth and mycotoxin production of acclimatised isolates of F. verticillioides and F. graminearum.


Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oelton Ferreira Rosa Junior ◽  
Mateus Sunti Dalcin ◽  
Vitor L. Nascimento ◽  
Fernando Machado Haesbaert ◽  
Talita Pereira de Souza Ferreira ◽  
...  

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.


Author(s):  
Santiago N. Otaiza-González ◽  
Verónica S. Mary ◽  
Silvina L. Arias ◽  
Lidwina Bertrand ◽  
Pilar A. Velez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground and aimFungal and plant secondary metabolites modulate the plant-pathogen interactions. However, the participation of fumonisins in the Fusarium verticillioides-maize pathosystem is unclear. In this work was studied the cell death, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) - phytohormone imbalance interplay underlying the phytotoxicity of fumonisin B1 (FB1) in maize germplasms with contrasting resistance to Fusarium ear rot in the field.MethodsResistant (RH) and susceptible hybrid (SH) maize seedlings, grown from uninoculated seeds irrigated with FB1 (1 and 20 ppm), were harvested at 7, 14 and 21 days after planting, and were examined for electrolyte leakage (aerial parts); and for oxidative stress biomarkers (aerial parts and roots). The phytohormone (salicylic and jasmonic acids) imbalance interplay underlying the FB1-induced cell death were further explored in seedlings exposed 24 h to the mycotoxin (1 ppm) in hydroponics.ResultsCell death increased in RH and SH watered with 1 and 20 ppm of mycotoxin, respectively. Both toxin concentrations were pro-oxidant, and the major perturbations were found in roots. An Integrated Biomarker Response index was calculated suggesting that phytotoxicity occurs in a redox context more efficiently controlled by RH.ConclusionThe pre-treatment with the antioxidant ascorbic acid led to the conclusion that cell death in RH was related to a salicylic acid increase mediated by ROS. Nevertheless, FB1 induced two different phytohormonal regulatory mechanisms mediated by oxidative stress in both maize hybrids.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Witaszak ◽  
Łukasz Stępień ◽  
Jan Bocianowski ◽  
Agnieszka Waśkiewicz

Veterinary diets are intended for diseased animals and may contain cereal grains, mainly maize and/or wheat. These, in turn, are often infected with pathogens of the Fusarium genus, which are able to produce numerous harmful mycotoxins. Forty-two samples of veterinary diets for dogs and cats were analyzed for the presence of Fusarium species and mycotoxins. Species were identified using molecular methods and the ergosterol and mycotoxins (fumonisin B1, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol and zearalenone) were quantified using HPLC methods. Two Fusarium species were identified: Fusarium proliferatum and Fusarium verticillioides. The highest concentrations of fumonisin B1, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol and zearalenone were 74.83, 2318.05, 190.90, and 45.84 ng/g, respectively. Only 9.5% of the samples were free from Fusarium mycotoxins. The acceptable limits of mycotoxin content in animal feed, specified by the EU regulations, were not exceeded in any of the samples tested. The mean mycotoxin content in veterinary diets for cats was lower than for dogs. Thus, it is recommended that veterinary diets are examined, since the mycotoxin contamination pose additional risk to animal health. The knowledge on Fusarium occurrence in veterinary diets is scarce and as far as we are aware this is the first report concerning the occurrence of Fusarium spp. and their important secondary metabolites—mycotoxins—in different types of veterinary diets for companion animals in Poland.


Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Li ◽  
Qing Qu ◽  
Zhiyan Cao ◽  
Zhengyu Guo ◽  
Hui Jia ◽  
...  

Fusarium diseases, including corn root rot, sheath rot, stalk rot, and ear rot are frequently occurring in maize producing areas of China. Fusarium stalk rot and ear rot are the most serious diseases and often occur at the same time, but it is unclear whether there is a correlation between Fusarium composition and disease occurrence. This study was conducted to clarify the relationship between the two diseases. A total of 49 corn stalk rot samples were collected from 15 regions of eight provinces in China from 2016 to 2018. The pathogens were isolated and identified separately from stalks, ear stems, and kernels. The contents of the fumonisins (FB1 and FB2) were detected in kernels. The results showed that the main Fusarium species were found in corn kernels, ear stems and stalks at the same time. The results showed that 1201 strains of Fusarium verticillioides, 668 strains of Fusarium oxysporum, 574 strains of Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC), 318 strains of Fusarium equiseti, 95 strains of Fusarium proliferatum, and 40 strains of Fusarium subglutinans were isolated from 1470 corn kernels, 245 ear stems, and 1225 stalks randomly selected from 49 samples. The contamination rate of fumonisins in the 49 samples was 57.1% with an average content of 1.9 μg/g, of which four samples exhibited higher levels as set by the European Commission (4.0 μg/g). These results provide a certain association between stalk rot and ear rot and lay a foundation to study the relationships among Fusarium maize diseases.


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