Patricia Marín

A European Database of Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum Trichothecene Genotypes

Fusarium species, particularly Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum, are the main cause of trichothecene type B contamination in cereals. Data on the distribution of Fusarium trichothecene genotypes in cereals in Europe are scattered in time and space. Furthermore, a common core set of related variables (sampling method, host cultivar, previous crop, etc.) that would allow more effective analysis of factors influencing the spatial and temporal population distribution, is lacking. Consequently, based on the available data, it is difficult to identify factors influencing chemotype distribution and spread at the European level. Here we describe the results of a collaborative integrated work which aims (1) to characterize the trichothecene genotypes of strains from three Fusarium species, collected over the period 2000–2013 and (2) to enhance the standardization of epidemiological data collection. Information on host plant, country of origin, sampling location, year of sampling and previous crop of 1147 F. graminearum, 479 F. culmorum, and 3 F. cortaderiae strains obtained from 17 European countries was compiled and a map of trichothecene type B genotype distribution was plotted for each species. All information on the strains was collected in a freely accessible and updatable database (www.catalogueeu.luxmcc.lu), which will serve as a starting point for epidemiological analysis of potential spatial and temporal trichothecene genotype shifts in Europe. The analysis of the currently available European dataset showed that in F. graminearum, the predominant genotype was 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) (82.9%), followed by 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON) (13.6%), and nivalenol (NIV) (3.5%). In F. culmorum, the prevalent genotype was 3-ADON (59.9%), while the NIV genotype accounted for the remaining 40.1%. Both, geographical and temporal patterns of trichothecene genotypes distribution were identified.

Relationship between Solute and Matric Potential Stress, Temperature, Growth, and FUM1 Gene Expression in Two Fusarium verticillioides Strains from Spain

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to study the effect of ecophysiological factors on fumonisin gene expression and growth in Fusarium verticillioides. The effects of ionic and nonionic solute water potentials, matric potential, and temperature on in vitro mycelial growth rates and on expression of the FUM1 gene, involved in fumonisin biosynthesis, were examined. FUM1 transcript levels were quantified using a specific real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) protocol. Low temperature and water stress reduced fungal growth. Water stress increased FUM1 transcript levels, especially in the case of stress caused by nonionic solute. The temporal kinetic assays showed that water stress had opposite effects on fungal growth versus FUM1 expression. These results indicate that water stress may be an important factor for fumonisin accumulation, particularly in the later phases of maize colonization when water availability decreases. The quantitative RT-PCR methods described here provide a valuable tool for investigating the ecophysiological basis for fumonisin gene expression and ultimately may lead to more effective control strategies for this important mycotoxigenic pathogen.

Genetic variability and fumonisin production by Fusarium proliferatum.

Fusarium proliferatum is together with Fusarium verticillioides the main source of fumonisins, a health risk mycotoxin, contaminating agro-products. Contrary to F. verticillioides, it colonizes a wide range of host plants besides maize, such as wheat or barley among others, in particular in certain regions (Southern Europe). The phylogenetic study performed in this work using a wide sample of isolates from diverse hosts and origins revealed a high variability, while no host preferences could be sustained. A real time RT-PCR assay was also developed specific for F. proliferatum on the basis on fumonisin biosynthetic gene, FUM1, which allowed discrimination from F. verticillioides. FUM1 gene expression showed a high and significant correlation (0.77) with fumonisin production, representing a valuable tool for specific and sensitive diagnosis of metabolically active fumonisin-producing F. proliferatum isolates and for evaluating the influence on environmental conditions on FUM1 gene regulation. The ability to produce fumonisins was also widely distributed indicating that F. proliferatum can represent a risk for health similarly to F. verticillioides. Moreover, the wide range of plants susceptible to colonization by F. proliferatum suggests that the impact of fumonisin risk in a number of commodities might need a revision.

Differential effect of environmental conditions on the growth and regulation of the fumonisin biosynthetic gene FUM1 in the maize pathogens and fumonisin producers Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum

The effects of ecophysiological factors, temperature and solute potential, on both the growth and the regulation of the fumonisin biosynthetic FUM1 gene were studied and compared in one isolate each of the two closely related fumonisin-producing and maize pathogens Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum. The effect of solute potential and temperature was examined on in vitro mycelia growth and on the expression of the FUM1 gene, quantified by species-specific real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR assays. Although both isolates showed similar two-dimensional profiles of growth, for F. verticillioides, optimal growth conditions were maintained at higher temperatures and lower solute potential values. FUM1 gene expression was markedly induced at 20 degrees C in both isolates, under suboptimal conditions for growth; however, their expression patterns differed in relation to solute potential. Whereas FUM1 expression was induced in response to increasing water stress in the isolate of F. verticillioides, the F. proliferatum one showed a stable expression pattern regardless of water potential conditions. These results suggest a differential regulation of fumonisin biosynthesis in these isolates of the two species that might be related to their different host range, and play an ecological role. Additionally, environmental conditions leading to water stress (drought) might result in increased risk of fumonisin contamination of maize caused by F. verticillioides.

Role of the ptsN Gene Product in Catabolite Repression of the Pseudomonas putida TOL Toluene Degradation Pathway in Chemostat Cultures

ABSTRACT The Pseudomonas putida KT2440 TOL upper pathway is repressed under nonlimiting conditions in cells growing in chemostat with succinate as a carbon source. We show that the ptsN gene product IIANtr participates in this repression. Crc, involved in yeast extract-dependent repression in batch cultures, did not influence expression when cells were growing in a chemostat with succinate at maximum rate.

Roles of Effectors in XylS-Dependent Transcription Activation: Intramolecular Domain Derepression and DNA Binding

XylS, an AraC family protein, activates transcription from the benzoate degradation pathway Pm promoter in the presence of a substrate effector such as 3-methylbenzoate (3MB). We developed a procedure to obtain XylS-enriched preparations which proved suitable to analyze its activation mechanism. XylS showed specific 3MB-independent binding to its target operator, which became strictly 3MB dependent in a dimerization-defective mutant. We demonstrated that the N-terminal domain of the protein can make linker-independent interactions with the C-terminal domain and inhibit its capacity to bind DNA. Interactions are hampered in the presence of 3MB effector. We propose two independent roles for 3MB in XylS activation: in addition to its known influence favoring protein dimerization, the effector is able to modify XylS conformation to trigger N-terminal domain intramolecular derepression. We also show that activation by XylS involves RNA polymerase recruitment to the Pm promoter as demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. RNA polymerase switching in Pm transcription was reproduced in in vitro transcription assays. All sigma(32)-, sigma(38)-, and sigma(70)-dependent RNA polymerases were able to carry out Pm transcription in a rigorous XylS-dependent manner, as demonstrated by the formation of open complexes only in the presence of the regulator.

Potential effects of environmental conditions on the efficiency of the antifungal tebuconazole controlling Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum growth rate and fumonisin biosynthesis

Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum are important phytopathogens which contaminate cereals in the Mediterranean climatic region with fumonisins. In this study we examined the interaction between the fungicide efficacy of tebuconazole and water potential (Ψw) (-0.7-7.0MPa)×temperature (20-35°C) on growth and FUM1 gene expression by real time RT-PCR (an indicator of fumonisin biosynthesis) in strains of both Fusarium species. Concentrations of tebuconazole required to reduce growth by 50 and 90% (ED50 and ED90 values) were determined. Growth of strains of both species was largely reduced by tebuconazole, with similar efficacy profiles in the interacting water potential×temperature conditions. In contrast, FUM1 expression was not generally reduced by tebuconazole. Moreover, sub-lethal doses in combination with mild water stress and temperatures less than 35°C significantly induced FUM1 expression with slight differences in both species. These results suggest that the efficacy of antifungal compounds to reduce mycotoxin risk would be more effective if consideration is given to both growth rate and toxin biosynthesis in relation to interacting environmental conditions. This is the first study linking fungicide efficacy of tebuconazole with environmental factor effects on control of growth and FUM1 gene expression of F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum.

Effect of solute stress and temperature on growth rate and TRI5 gene expression using real time RT–PCR in Fusarium graminearum from Spanish wheat

The objective of this work was to study the effect of ecophysiological factors on trichothecene gene expression and growth in Fusarium graminearum. The effect of non-ionic solute water potentials and temperature was examined on in vitro mycelial growth rates and on expression of the TRI5 gene, involved in trichothecene biosynthesis, quantified by real time RT-PCR. This study showed optimal values of 25 degrees C and -2.8MPa (0.982a(w)) for growth. Marginal temperatures such as 15 degrees C and 30-35 degrees C, particularly in combination with water potentials below -2.8MPa, drastically reduced growth. The expression of TRI5 was reasonably constant although some induction was observed between 20 and 30 degrees C, the most favourable temperatures for growth, depending on the water potential imposed, particularly at -7.0MPa. A temporal kinetic experiment at 25 degrees C examined the effect of ionic solute stress on TRI5 gene expression and growth rate. The results indicated independence of growth rate and TRI5 expression, as the fungal biomass increased with time while the gene expression remained constant. This suggested that favourable conditions for growth will result in higher trichothecene production, and that toxin production would always accompany the colonization process at a steady rate while the conditions for growth are permissive. Quantification of key biosynthetic toxin genes by real time RT-PCR was shown to be a valuable tool to gain knowledge of the ecophysiological basis for trichothecene biosynthesis and enable better control strategies to be developed during the life cycle of this important mycotoxigenic pathogen of cereals.

Phylogenetic analysis, fumonisin production and pathogenicity of Fusarium fujikuroi strains isolated from rice in the Philippines

BACKGROUND Fusarium fujikuroi Nirenberg is a maize and rice pathogen causing important agricultural losses and produces fumonisins - mycotoxins which pose health risk to humans and farm animals. However, little information is available about the phylogenetics of this species and its ability to produce fumonisins in rice. We studied 32 strains isolated from rice in the Philippines and performed a phylogenetic analysis using the partial sequence of Elongation Factor 1 alpha (EF-1α) including isolates belonging to closely related species. Fumonisin B1 (FB1 ) production was analyzed in 7-day-old cultures grown in fumonisin-inducing medium by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based method and by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using primers for FUM1 gene, a key gene in fumonisin biosynthesis. RESULTS Nucleotide diversities per site (π) were 0.00024 ± 0.00022 (standard deviation) for the 32 F. fujikuroi strains from the Philippines and 0.00189 ± 0.00143 for all 34 F. fujikuroi strains, respectively. F. fujikuroi isolates grouped into one cluster separated from the rest of isolates belonging to the closely related F. proliferatum and showed very low variability, irrespective of their geographic origin. The cluster containing strains of F. proliferatum showed higher intraspecific variability than F. fujikuroi. Thirteen of the 32 strains analyzed were FB1 producers (40.62%), with production ranging from 0.386 to 223.83 ppm. All isolates analyzed showed FUM1 gene expression above 1 and higher than the CT value of the non-template control sample. Both seedling stunting and elongation were induced by the isolates in comparison with the control. CONCLUSION F. fujikuroi are distinct from F. proliferatum isolates based on phytogenetic analysis and are potential fumonisin producers because all are positive for FUM1 gene expression. No relationship between fumonisin production and pathogenicity could be observed.

Combined effects of benomyl and environmental factors on growth and expression of the fumonisin biosynthetic genes FUM1 and FUM19 by Fusarium verticillioides

Fusarium verticillioides is predominantly responsible of fumonisin contamination of maize and other cereals in Mediterranean climatic regions. This study examined the interaction of the fungicide benomyl, at ED₅₀ and ED₉₀ concentrations (effective doses of benomyl to reduce growth by 50% and 90%, respectively), with a range of temperatures (20-35 °C) and water potentials (-0.7, -2.8 and -7.0 MPa) compatible with current and foreseen climate change scenarios for these regions on growth and fumonisin biosynthesis in in vitro assays. The expression of fumonisin biosynthetic genes (FUM1 and FUM19) was quantified by real time RT-PCR. FUM1 encodes a polyketide synthase and FUM19 an ABC-type transporter, located both in the fumonisin biosynthetic cluster. The ED₅₀ and ED₉₀ concentrations obtained at 25 °C were 0.93 mg/L and 3.30 mg/L, respectively. Benomyl affected growth and fumonisin gene expression differently but it generally reduced fungal growth and fumonisin biosynthesis and both were significantly affected by temperature and water potential. This indicated that efficacy of benomyl might be compromised at certain conditions, although at similar or lower levels than other fungicides tested. Both fumonisin biosynthetic genes had similar expression patterns in all treatments and their correlation was positive and significant. The results suggested that Mediterranean climatic scenarios might suffer an additional negative impact of climate change by reducing the efficacy of antifungals used to control pathogens and toxigenic fungi.