玉米内生菌L10的分离、鉴定及拮抗活性

为获得对玉米茎腐病主要病原菌禾谷镰孢Fusarium graminearum有明显拮抗作用的玉米内生菌,采用平板对峙法从成熟健康玉米茎秆中筛选禾谷镰孢拮抗菌株,并分析其抗菌谱;通过形态特征、生理生化特性及16S rDNA序列分析进行菌种鉴定;利用盆栽生防试验检测其对玉米茎腐病的防治效果。结果表明,共分离获得了164株玉米内生细菌菌株,其中L10菌株对禾谷镰孢具有较好的抑制效果,抑菌圈半径达1.68 cm;该菌对玉米大斑病菌Setosphaeria turcica、层出镰孢F. proliferatum、禾谷镰孢F. graminearum、拟轮枝镰孢F. verticilliodes、玉米弯孢叶斑病菌Curvularia lunata、玉米小斑病菌Bipolaris maydis、立枯丝核菌Rhizoctonia solani、茄链格孢Alternaria solani共8种植物病原菌均有拮抗作用,尤其对禾谷镰孢抑制效果最佳;结合形态特征、生理生化性质及16S rDNA序列分析,将L10菌株鉴定为多粘类芽胞杆菌Paenibacillus polymyxa。L10菌株脂肽类物质对禾谷镰孢菌具有较好的抑制活性,且盆栽生防试验结果显示该菌株对玉米茎腐病具有一定的防治效果。表明菌株L10对玉米镰孢茎腐病的防治具有一定潜力。     

安徽省玉米穗腐病主要致病镰孢菌的分离与鉴定

为明确安徽省玉米穗腐病主要致病镰孢菌的种类,采用单孢分离、形态学鉴定和分子生物学鉴定的方法,对2017年采集自安徽省6个玉米主产区——合肥市、蚌埠市、淮北市、阜阳市、亳州市和宿州市的玉米穗腐病病样进行了分离鉴定。在获得的455株镰孢菌中,拟轮枝镰孢菌、禾谷镰孢复合种、层出镰孢菌、尖孢镰孢菌和黄色镰孢菌的分离频率分别为59.13%、21.28%、13.68%、5.12%和0.79%。其中拟轮枝镰孢菌在各地的分布最广,属于安徽省的优势致病镰孢菌。     

稻瘟菌二肽基肽酶V基因DppV的功能分析

为明确二肽基肽酶V（dipeptidyl-peptidase V,DppV）在稻瘟菌Magnaporthe oryzae中的生物学功能,采用在线软件对稻瘟菌DppV进行生物信息学分析,利用实时荧光定量PCR（quantitativereal-time PCR,qRT-PCR）技术分析其在稻瘟菌分生孢子不同萌发时间的表达量,通过基因敲除和功能回补、致病力测定等方法对其功能进行分析。结果表明,稻瘟菌DppV蛋白含有信号肽,定位于胞外,不含跨膜结构域,没有GPI锚定位点,为经典分泌蛋白,含DAP2结构域;其与小麦顶囊壳Gaeumannomyces tritici、早熟禾巨座壳Magnaporthiopsis poae、新烟曲霉Aspergillus novofumigatus和巴斯德伊蒙菌Emergomyces pasteurianus蛋白序列的相似度较高,分别为68.92%、68.41%、51.09%和49.96%;在稻瘟菌分生孢子萌发早期DppV基因均有表达,但当萌发时间为24 h时,其相对表达量最高,为5.61;稻瘟菌DppV基因敲除突变体菌株的菌落生长速度明显下降,产孢量（8.18×10⁴个/cm²）和4个产孢相关基因MoHox2、MoCon8、MoSec22和MoCos1的相对表达量显著降低,分生孢子萌发率（56.21%）明显下降,对SDS、NaCl、山梨醇和H₂O₂胁迫更加敏感,对水稻的致病力显著降低,水稻植株内真菌生物量明显减少,而稻瘟菌DppV基因回补菌株的表型、耐胁迫能力和致病力等则恢复到稻瘟菌野生型菌株的水平。表明DppV基因在稻瘟菌营养生长、产孢、致病力、对外界胁迫的应答及其在水稻体内的定殖等方面起着重要作用。     

重庆及周边地区玉米穗腐病致病镰孢菌的分离与鉴定

为明确重庆及周边地区玉米穗腐病致病镰孢菌的种群组成及其分布,于2014—2015年在32个区县98个乡镇采集玉米穗腐病样品,采用种子健康检测法分离病原物,通过形态学特性、培养特征和分子生物学等方法鉴定镰孢菌种。结果表明,在获得的111个镰孢菌分离物中鉴定出10种致病镰孢菌,分别为拟轮枝镰孢、层出镰孢、禾谷镰孢复合种、尖镰孢复合种、藤仓镰孢、木贼镰孢、黄色镰孢、变红镰孢、九州镰孢和茄镰孢,其总分离频率依次为38.70%、17.10%、17.10%、11.70%、7.20%、3.60%、1.80%、0.90%、0.90%和0.90%;除渝东南区域外,在其它区域拟轮枝镰孢的分离频率最高,其次为层出镰孢和禾谷镰孢复合种;对禾谷镰孢复合种分离物的翻译延伸因子TEF-1α基因测序比对发现,该复合种由南方镰孢和亚洲镰孢组成。研究表明,重庆地区玉米穗腐病优势致病镰孢菌为拟轮枝镰孢、禾谷镰孢复合种和层出镰孢。     

我国玉米穗腐病致病镰孢种群及禾谷镰孢复合种的鉴定

为阐明中国玉米镰孢穗腐病的主要致病镰孢菌种类及其分布特征,采用形态学、培养特征及特异性分子鉴定方法,对采集自我国18省100个县的玉米籽粒样品进行分离鉴定,并通过TEF-1α基因序列测定解析禾谷镰孢复合种的构成.结果表明,在我国引起玉米穗腐病的主要致病菌为镰孢菌,分离频率为56.0%,其次还有青霉菌、曲霉菌、木霉菌等.138个镰孢菌分离物中鉴别出7个种及复合种,其中拟轮枝镰孢菌Fusarium verticillioides(56.5%)和禾谷镰孢复合种F.graminearum species complex(37.7%)为广泛分布的优势致病种类,其余为黄色镰孢菌F.culmorum(2.2%)、层出镰孢菌F.proliferatum(1.5%)、尖镰孢复合种F.oxysporum species complex(0.7%)、茄镰孢复合种F.solani species complex(0.7%)和亚粘团镰孢菌F.subglutinans(0.7%).在禾谷镰孢复合种中鉴定出3个独立种:广泛分布的禾谷镰孢菌F.graminearum sensu stricto(59.6%)、分布在云南、贵州及陕西商洛等南方生态区的南方镰孢菌F.meridionale(25.0%)和分布在内蒙古、吉林、山西、河北及北京等北方生态区的布氏镰孢菌F.boothii(11.5%).     

苹果树腐烂病菌异柠檬酸裂解酶基因VmICL的功能分析

由黑腐皮壳菌(Valsa mali Miyabe et Yamada)引起的苹果树腐烂病严重影响了苹果树的健康生长。异柠檬酸裂解酶是真菌乙醛酸循环中的关键酶,异柠檬酸裂解酶基因(ICL)在真菌生长发育及致病过程中发挥重要作用。本研究在苹果树腐烂病菌基因VmICL生物信息学分析的基础上,应用PEG介导原生质体转化法获得了基因VmICL的敲除突变体及回补菌株,解析了VmICL对病菌生长发育、细胞壁完整性、渗透胁迫、碳氮源利用及致病力的影响。研究表明,基因VmICL位于9号染色体,VmICL蛋白在第23-545位氨基酸区域具TIM super family结构域,系统发育分析显示与水稻稻瘟病菌(Magnaporthe grisea)亲缘关系最近。基因VmICL缺失突变体生长速率减慢,分生孢子器产生数量减少,分生孢子萌发延迟;基因VmICL参与维持细胞壁的完整性,但不参与渗透胁迫;基因VmICL正调控碳源吸收,负调控氮源吸收,正调控致病力。总之,基因VmICL参与调控苹果树腐烂病菌的生长发育、细胞壁完整性的维持、碳氮源利用及致病力的发挥。     

新疆绿洲灌溉玉米产区玉米茎腐病优势病原菌分离与鉴定

为明确新疆维吾尔自治区（简称新疆）绿洲灌溉玉米产区玉米茎腐病优势病原菌的种类组成及时空变化差异,于2020年和2021年在新疆主要玉米种植区共采集335株病样,获得601个分离物,通过形态学结合分子生物学技术对各代表菌株的rDNA-ITS和TEF-1α基因序列进行扩增和同源率比对鉴定。结果表明,镰孢菌共560株,占比93.18%,其中拟轮枝镰孢菌Fusarium verticillioides、层出镰孢菌F. proliferatum、禾谷镰孢菌F. graminearum、尖孢镰孢菌F. oxysporum和腐皮镰孢菌F. solani为主要致病菌,2020年分离频率依次为44.10%、29.77%、9.77%、5.69%和5.23%,2021年分离频率依次为50.95%、38.22%、0、2.55%和0。拟轮枝镰孢菌和层出镰孢菌在5个地州均有分布,且总分离频率显著高于其他病原菌。苗期接种结果表明,禾谷镰孢菌致病率（86.30%）、病情指数（35.33）显著高于其他4种病原菌,为强致病菌;层出镰孢菌和拟轮枝镰孢菌的致病率和病情指数分别为63.33%、16.00和55.00%、11.6...     

常熟地区蚕豆枯萎病病原菌鉴定及其致病力初探

2000、2001年在江苏省常熟地区采集了有典型枯萎症状的蚕豆标样各50个,获94个镰刀菌单孢菌株。经鉴定分别属于尖孢镰孢(Fusarium axysporum)、燕麦镰孢(F.avenaceum)、串珠镰孢(F.moniliforme )、木贼镰孢(F.equiseti)、三线镰孢(F.tricinctum)、禾谷镰孢(F.graminearum)和茄镰孢(F.solani),其中尖孢镰孢、燕麦镰孢、串珠镰孢、木贼镰孢为该地区蚕豆镰刀菌枯萎病的主要病原菌。测定了48个镰刀菌菌株对蚕豆的致病力,尖孢镰孢、木贼镰孢、串珠镰孢和燕麦镰孢对蚕豆的致病力都较强。用蚕豆枯萎病菌和棉花枯萎病菌交叉接种棉花和蚕豆,结果表明两者存在着较强的交互侵染能力。     

一株拮抗链霉菌SM3-7的鉴定及其对玉米茎基腐病的防效

为获得对玉米茎基腐病具有良好防效的拮抗菌株,从玉米根际土壤中分离以玉米茎基腐病拟轮枝镰孢菌Fusarium verticillioides为靶标菌的拮抗放线菌菌株。采用平板对峙法测定不同菌株的抑菌活性,用抑菌圈法筛选效果良好的拮抗菌株并进行种类鉴定、抑菌谱和防效测定。结果表明,从土壤中分离并筛选获得1株对拟轮枝镰孢菌具有明显抑制作用的菌株SM3-7。经形态学、生理生化特征和16S rDNA系统发育分析,将菌株SM3-7鉴定为核粒链霉菌Streptomyces sclerogranulatus。该菌株抑菌谱广,对玉米上的8种植物病原菌有良好的抑制作用,对拟轮枝镰孢菌抑菌圈直径可达（28.03±0.45mm）。盆栽防效结果表明,菌株SM3-7发酵液对抗病品种“良玉99”和感病品种“全玉1233”的玉米茎基腐病14d防效分别达77.28%和76.12%,21d防效达72.20%和71.89%。核粒链霉菌菌株SM3-7发酵液可有效防治玉米茎基腐病,为利用微生物防治玉米茎基腐病拟轮枝镰孢菌提供参考。     

甘肃省临夏州小麦脚腐病病原鉴定

对甘肃省临夏州小麦脚腐病病原进行了分离鉴定,从3块病田的37株罹病小麦上分离得到56个真菌菌株,分别被鉴定为雪腐镰刀菌[Fusarium nivale(Fr.)Ces.]、燕麦镰刀菌[Fusarium avenaceum(Corda et Fr.)Sacc.]、麦斑点附球霉[Epicoccum triticiP.Henn.]、小壳色单隔孢菌[Diplodiellasp.]、交链孢菌[Alternariaspp.]、芽枝霉[Cladosporiumsp.]、黑孢霉[Nigrosporasp.]。其中,雪腐镰刀菌致病性最强,燕麦镰刀菌致病性中强,麦斑点附球霉致病性弱,其余菌不致病。     

胶孢炭疽菌G蛋白信号调控因子CgRGS3的生物学功能

G蛋白信号调控因子(regulators of G-protein signaling,RGS)是G蛋白的一类负调控因子,在植物病原真菌生长发育及致病过程中起着重要作用。为探究胶孢炭疽病菌1个RGS基因CgRGS3的生物学功能,利用PCR技术扩增CgRGS3基因并进行生物信息学分析,通过同源重组的方法获得该基因的敲除突变体,并在突变体的基础上获得互补株,通过表型分析确定CgRGS3的生物学功能。结果表明:CgRGS3编码1个含有367个氨基酸的蛋白,包含1个RGS功能域和3个跨膜区域,表型分析发现与野生型菌株相比,敲除突变体营养生长缓慢,分生孢子产量附着胞形成率显著降低,对Cu~(2+)、Fe~(2+)、Zn~(2+)离子更加敏感,细胞壁完整性发生改变,黑色素产量降低及致病力减弱等。由此可见,CgRGS3参与调控胶孢炭疽菌的营养生长,分生孢子产生及附着胞的分化、细胞壁完整性、黑色素产生及致病性等。     

Genetic Analysis of the Role of Trichothecene and Fumonisin Mycotoxins in the Virulence of Fusarium

The phytotoxicity of the Fusarium trichothecene and fumonisin mycotoxins has led to speculation that both toxins are involved in plant pathogenesis. This subject has been addressed by examining virulence of trichothecene and fumonisin-nonproducing mutants of Fusarium in field tests. Mutants were generated by transformation-mediated disruption of genes encoding enzymes that catalyze early steps in the biosynthesis of each toxin. Two economically important species of Fusarium were selected for these studies: the trichothecene-producing species Fusarium graminearum, which causes wheat head blight and maize ear rot, and the fumonisin-producing species F. verticillioides, which causes maize ear rot. Trichothecene-non-producing mutants of F. graminearum caused less disease than the wild-type strain from which they were derived on both wheat and maize, although differences in virulence on maize were not observed under hot and dry environmental conditions. Genetic analyses of the mutants demonstrated that the reduced virulence on wheat was caused by the loss of trichothecene production rather than by a non-target mutation induced by the gene disruption procedure. Although the analyses of virulence of fumonisin-non-producing mutants of F. verticillioides are not complete, to date, the mutants have been as virulent on maize ears as their wild-type progenitor strains. The finding that trichothecene production contributes to the virulence of F. graminearum suggests that it may be possible to generate plants that are resistant to this fungus by increasing their resistance to trichothecenes. As a result, several researchers are trying to identify trichothecene resistance genes and transfer them to crop species.     

核盘菌自噬相关基因SsATG5和SsATG8的功能分析

为探究自噬在核盘菌Sclerotinia sclerotiorum致病过程中的作用,利用酵母Saccharomyces自噬相关基因（autophagy-related gene,ATG）编码的蛋白序列比对核盘菌基因组,获得核盘菌假定ATG,并以核盘菌1980菌株为出发菌株,基于同源重组的原理对假定ATG进行敲除和回补,并测定不同突变体的生长表型和致病能力。结果表明,从核盘菌基因组中比对到2个ATG,分别命名为SsATG5和SsATG8,两者在核盘菌致病过程中均上调表达。SsATG5和SsATG8敲除突变体在菌丝生长、产草酸和侵染垫形成方面与野生型菌株无明显差异,但SsATG5敲除突变体在离体拟南芥Arabidopsis thaliana叶片上的致病力显著下降了约40%,在活体拟南芥植株上的致病力显著下降了约80%,同时SsATG5回补突变体恢复了正常的致病力。表明SsATG5参与了核盘菌的致病过程,证实自噬在核盘菌致病过程中发挥着重要作用。     

苹果树腐烂病菌VmMFS1~VmMFS3基因的功能分析

为绿色持久防控苹果树腐烂病,该研究分析苹果树腐烂病菌Valsa mali的3个主要协同转运蛋白超家族（major facilitator superfamily,MFS）编码基因的氨基酸序列特征,利用实时荧光定量PCR （quantitative real-time PCR,RT-qPCR）技术分析这3个基因在苹果树腐烂病菌侵染阶段的表达水平,通过构建这3个基因的缺失突变体和回补菌株分析其在病原菌营养生长、致病力和非生物胁迫应答等方面的功能。结果表明,这3个基因的氨基酸序列均具有MFS保守结构域,将其命名为VmMFS1~VmMFS3; VmMFS1和VmMFS2的进化距离较近,均与VmMFS3的进化距离较远;在苹果树腐烂病菌侵染过程中VmMFS1~VmMFS3基因表达均显著上调;与野生型03-8菌株相比,VmMFS1~VmMFS3基因缺失突变体的菌落形态无明显差异,但生长速度下降; VmMFS1~VmMFS3基因缺失突变体的致病力均显著降低; VmMFS1~VmMFS3基因缺失突变体对H₂O₂胁迫的敏感性无明显变化,但对NaCl胁迫更敏感;基因回补后基因缺失突变体的表型缺陷能恢复到野生型菌株的水平。     

甘肃玉米穗腐病样品中轮枝镰孢菌的分离鉴定及生物学特性

 为了明确甘肃玉米穗腐病的病原种类, 于2009年9月在甘肃省四大生态区采集玉米穗腐病样品, 以组织分离法进行病原物的分离培养, 对分离得到的镰孢菌菌落进行纯化和单孢分离后, 以形态学为基础, 参照Leisle分类系统进行鉴定。结果表明:共分离到271株镰孢菌菌株, 其中以轮枝镰孢菌(Fusarium verticillioides)和黄色镰孢菌(F. culmorum)出现频率高, 属优势种。按照柯赫氏法则对沈单16和金穗96832进行致病性测定, 证实了轮枝镰孢菌对玉米果穗的致病性。选取2株轮枝镰孢菌菌株进行EF-1α(tef) 基因序列分析, 将PCR产物回收测序后在GenBank上比对, 菌株GSLT4-3-2与GenBank中登记的轮枝镰孢菌FN179339、FN179345和FN179338;GSTS24-2-1与轮枝镰孢菌FN179343、FN179346、FN179340、FN179344和 FN252384亲缘关系最近, 序列同源性达100%。轮枝镰孢菌GSYC17-2-1的生长温度范围为15～35℃, 最适温度为28℃, pH 值为8;菌落在pH值为4～10的培养基上能够迅速扩展, pH值为7时产孢量最大;碳源对轮枝镰孢菌菌丝生长影响相对稳定, 而氮源对其营养生长影响的变幅较大;完全黑暗条件下, 菌丝扩展最快, 12 h光暗交替对产孢量有明显的促进作用;病原菌菌丝致死温度为70℃, 10 min。     

苹果树腐烂病菌染色质重塑因子Vmles4的功能研究

染色质重塑因子INO80是一类由多亚基构成的遗传学调控因子，调控多种DNA代谢，在基因的表达中发挥着重要的调控功能。但其在苹果树腐烂病菌（Valsa mali）中是否存在及其生物学功能并不清楚，为此，本研究从病菌基因组中分析鉴定到INO80的一个亚基基因Vmles4，利用qRT-PCR技术分析了Vmles4在病菌侵染过程中的表达模式，利用Double-joint PCR技术和PEG介导的原生质体转化方法进行了基因敲除，然后对3个突变体的营养生长及致病力进行测定和分析，并对病菌的非核糖体肽合成酶基因VmNRPS12及VmNRPS14在突变体中的表达进行定量分析。结果表明：Vmles4在侵染初期的表达显著上调，接种后6 h上调表达6.2倍。敲除突变体的生长速率平均降低28%且菌丝生长稀疏，在富士苹果品种（Malus domestic cv. Fuji）叶片和枝条上的致病力分别降低到22.5%和27.5%，VmNRPS12及VmNRPS14基因在Vmles4突变体侵染苹果枝条24 h后的表达量分别下调86.5%和50%；综上所述，Vmles4正调控腐烂病菌的营养生长、致病力以及次级代谢合成酶基因VmNRPS12和VmNRPS14的表达。     

黄淮海夏玉米主产区穗腐病病原菌的分离鉴定

为明确我国黄淮海夏玉米主产区玉米穗腐病的病原菌种类、优势种群及虫害、年度、省份对病原菌的影响,以形态学为基础,结合分子生物学方法对2013、2015年随机采自河南、河北、山东3省的155份玉米穗腐病样品进行分离鉴定。结果表明,引起黄淮海夏玉米主产区玉米穗腐病的主要致病菌为镰孢菌Fusarium spp.,包括拟轮枝镰孢F.verticillioides、禾谷镰孢F.graminearum、层出镰孢F.proliferatum、木贼镰孢F.equiseti及藤仓镰孢F.fujikuroi,分离频率分别为49.7%、28.4%、12.3%、3.9%和1.3%;其次为木霉菌Trichoderma spp.,包括哈茨木霉T.harzianum、绿色木霉T.viride和棘孢木霉T.asperellum,分离频率分别为8.4%、3.2%和5.2%;青霉菌Penicillium spp.分离频率较低,为14.2%;曲霉菌Aspergillus spp.包括黑曲霉A.niger和黄曲霉A.flavus,分离频率分别为2.6%和1.9%。研究表明,黄淮海主产区玉米穗腐病优势病原菌为拟轮枝镰孢、禾谷镰孢和木霉菌,不同省份不同年度间病原菌种类及优势病原菌存在差异,虫害能加重玉米穗腐病的发生。     

Toxigenic Fusarium Species of Liseola Section in Pre-harvest Maize Ear Rot, and Associated Mycotoxins in Slovakia

The occurrence of Fusarium species of Liseola section and related toxins was investigated for two years (1996 and 1998) on maize ear rot samples collected in the most important areas for maize growing in Slovakia. The species most frequently isolated was F. verticillioides, followed by F. proliferatum in 1996 and F. subglutinans in 1998. Most of the strains belonged to mating populations A, D, and E of the teleomorph Gibberella fujikuroi. Fusarium graminearum was also frequently recovered in both the years of investigations. Toxin analysis of maize ears showed that most of the samples (21 out of 22) were contaminated with at least one toxin. In particular, the concentration of fumonisin B₁, and fumonisin ₂ was up to 26.9 and 5.1gg^-1, respectively in 1996, and up to 12.1 and 6.3gg^-1, respectively in 1998. Beauvericin was detected only in one sample in 1996. Seven samples in 1996 were contaminated by fusaproliferin up to 8.2gg^-1, but just traces of the toxin were found in one sample in 1998. All 29 strains of F. verticillioides, two of three strains of F. proliferatum and none of eight F. subglutinans strains isolated from samples produced fumonisin B₁ in culture on whole maize kernels (0.1–5646 and 940–1200ugg^-1, respectively). Two strains of F. subglutinans and two of F. proliferatum produced beauvericin (up to 65 and 70gg^-1, respectively). Ten strains of F. verticillioides produced beauvericin: 9 strains produced a low amount (up to 3gg^-1), while only one of them produced a high level of toxin (375gg^-1). Fusaproliferin was produced by two F. proliferatum strains (220 and 370gg^-1), by seven F. subglutinans (20–1335gg^-1) and by three F. verticillioides (10–35gg^-1). This is the first report on fusaproliferin production by F. verticillioides, although at low level.     

Toxigenic Fusarium Species and Mycotoxins Associated with Maize Ear Rot in Europe

Several Fusarium species occurring worldwide on maize as causal agents of ear rot, are capable of producing mycotoxins in infected kernels, some of which have a notable impact on human and animal health. The main groups of Fusarium toxins commonly found are: trichothecenes, zearalenones, fumonisins, and moniliformin. In addition, beauvericin and fusaproliferin have been found in Fusarium-infected maize ears. Zearalenone and deoxynivalenol are commonly found in maize red ear rot, which is essentially caused by species of the Discolour section, particularly F. graminearum. Moreover, nivalenol and fusarenone-X were often found associated with the occasional occurrence of F. cerealis, and diacetoxyscirpenol and T-2 toxin with the occurrence of F. poae and F. sporotrichioides, respectively. In addition, the occurrence of F. avenaceum and F. subglutinans usually led to the accumulation of moniliformin. In maize pink ear rot, which is mainly caused by F. verticillioides, there is increasing evidence of the wide occurrence of fumonisin B₁. This carcinogenic toxin is usually found in association with moniliformin, beauvericin, and fusaproliferin, both in central Europe due to the co-occurrence of F. subglutinans, and in southern Europe where the spread of F. verticillioides is reinforced by the widespread presence of F. proliferatum capable of producing fumonisin B₁, moniliformin, beauvericin, and fusaproliferin.     

Development of PCR assays to Tri7 and Tri13 trichothecene biosynthetic genes, and characterisation of chemotypes of Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium cerealis

Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium cerealis are major causal agents of Fusarium Head Blight (scab) which is a disease of global significance in all cereal growing areas. These fungi produce trichothecene mycotoxins, principally nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON). Genes Tri13 and Tri7 from the trichothecene biosynthetic gene cluster convert DON to NIV (Tri13) and NIV to 4-acetyl-NIV (Tri7). We have developed positive–negative PCR assays based on these two genes, which accurately indicate a DON or NIV chemotype in F. graminearum, F. culmorum and F. cerealis. These assays are useful in assessing the risk of trichothecene contamination, and can be informative in epidemiological studies. All NIV chemotype isolates studied have functional copies of both Tri13 and Tri7, and all DON-producing isolates have both genes disrupted or deleted. We have identified several mutations in these genes, which are conserved across F. graminearum lineage, RAPD and SCAR groupings and between the three species. There appears to be evidence of inter-species hybridisation within the trichothecene biosynthetic gene cluster.