Neurosporaxanthin Overproduction by Fusarium fujikuroi and Evaluation of Its Antioxidant Properties

Neurosporaxanthin (NX) is a carboxylic carotenoid produced by some filamentous fungi, including species of the genera Neurospora and Fusarium. NX biosynthetic genes and their regulation have been thoroughly investigated in Fusarium fujikuroi, an industrial fungus used for gibberellin production. In this species, carotenoid-overproducing mutants, affected in the regulatory gene carS, exhibit an upregulated expression of the NX pathway. Based on former data on a stimulatory effect of nitrogen starvation on carotenoid biosynthesis, we developed culture conditions with carS mutants allowing the production of deep-pigmented mycelia. With this method, we obtained samples with ca. 8 mg NX/g dry mass, in turn the highest concentration for this carotenoid described so far. NX-rich extracts obtained from these samples were used in parallel with carS-complemented NX-poor extracts obtained under the same conditions, to check the antioxidant properties of this carotenoid in in vitro assays. NX-rich extracts exhibited higher antioxidant capacity than NX-poor extracts, either when considering their quenching activity against [O2(1Δg)] in organic solvent (singlet oxygen absorption capacity (SOAC) assays) or their scavenging activity against different free radicals in aqueous solution and in liposomes. These results make NX a promising carotenoid as a possible feed or food additive, and encourage further studies on its chemical properties.

Different Phenotypes, Similar Genomes: Three Newly Sequenced Fusarium fujikuroi Strains Induce Different Symptoms in Rice Depending on Temperature

Bakanae, caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Fusarium fujikuroi, is one of the most important diseases of rice and is attributed to up to 75% of losses, depending on the strain and environmental conditions. Some strains cause elongation and thin leaves, whereas others induce stunting and chlorotic seedlings. Differences in symptoms are attributed to genetic differences in the strains. F. fujikuroi strains Augusto2, CSV1, and I1.3 were sequenced with Illumina MiSeq, and pathogenicity trials were conducted on rice cultivar Galileo, which is susceptible to bakanae. By performing gene prediction, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) calling, and structural variant analysis with a reference genome, we show how an extremely limited number of polymorphisms in genes not commonly associated with bakanae disease can cause strong differences in phenotype. CSV1 and Augusto2 were particularly close, with only 21,887 SNPs between them, but they differed in virulence, reaction to temperature, induced symptoms, colony morphology and color, growth speed, fumonisin, and gibberellin production. Genes potentially involved in the shift in phenotype were identified. Furthermore, we show how temperature variation may result in different symptoms even in rice plants inoculated with the same F. fujikuroi strain. Moreover, all of the F. fujikuroi strains became more virulent at higher temperatures. Significant differences were likewise observed in gibberellic acid production and in the expression of both fungal and plant gibberellin biosynthetic genes.

Solid-state fermentation process for gibberellin production using enzymatic hydrolysate corn stalks

Solid-state fermentation was carried out for production of gibberellin via the addition of enzymatic hydrolysate from steam-exploded corn stalks during the culture period. The enzymatic hydrolysate from the steam-exploded corn stalks was added to the culture medium during the solid-state fermentation period, which improved gibberellin production. When the enzymatic hydrolysate was added into the 400 mL/kg dry basis substrate in the solid-state fermentation after 60 h, the temperature was 30 °C, the pH was 7.00, the mass ratio of solid to liquid was 1:1.1, and the fermentation period was 168 h. This led to the largest gibberellin yield (9.48 g/kg dry basis), and when compared with pre-optimization, the gibberellin yield increased by 135%. The optimum conditions to maximize the biomass for the fermentation process were obtained; the temperature was 32 °C for a gibberellin yield of 9.20 g/kg dry basis, the pH was 6.00 and the mass ratio of solid to liquid was 1:1.1 for a gibberellin yield of 9.48 g/kg dry basis, and the fermentation period was 96 h for a gibberellin yield of 6.94 g/kg dry basis. Therefore, a new alternative way for gibberellin production via solid-state fermentation has been demonstrated.

Genetic Differentiation Associated with Fumonisin and Gibberellin Production in JapaneseFusarium fujikuroi

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.