title: Maize kernel antioxidants and their potential involvement in Fusarium ear rot resistance.
abstract: The potential involvement of antioxidants (α-tocopherol, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-carotene, and ferulic acid) in the resistance of maize varieties to Fusarium ear rot was the focus of this study. These antioxidants were present in all maize kernel stages, indicating that the fumonisin-producing fungi (mainly Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum ) are likely to face them during ear colonization. The effect of these compounds on fumonisin biosynthesis was studied in F. verticillioides liquid cultures. In carotenoid-treated cultures, no inhibitory effect of fumonisin accumulation was observed while a potent inhibitory activity was obtained for sublethal doses of α-tocopherol (0.1 mM) and ferulic acid (1 mM). Using a set of genotypes with moderate to high susceptibility to Fusarium ear rot, ferulic acid was significantly lower in immature kernels of the very susceptible group. Such a relation was nonexistent for tocopherols and carotenoids. Also, ferulic acid in immature kernels ranged from 3 to 8.5 mg/g, i.e., at levels consistent with the in vitro inhibitory concentration. Overall, our data support the fact that ferulic acid may contribute to resistance to Fusarium ear rot and/or fumonisin accumulation.
authors.affiliation: ARVALIS-Institut du végétal, 6 Chemin de la Côte Vieille, Baziège, France.
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picot
authors.forename: Vessela
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Atanasova-Pénichon
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.forename: Gisèle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marchegay
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barreau
authors.forename: Laëtitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pinson-Gadais
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roucolle
authors.forename: Florie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Daveau
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caron
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Richard-Forget
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D060467:Disease Resistance; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005602:France; D037341:Fumonisins / Q000378:metabolism; D005670:Fusarium / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D037341:Fumonisins; C004999:ferulic acid