title: Molecular diagnostics on the toxigenic potential of Fusarium spp. plant pathogens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We propose and test an efficient and rapid protocol for the detection of toxigenic Fusarium isolates producing three main types of Fusarium-associated mycotoxins (fumonisins, trichothecenes and zearelanone).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The novel approach utilizes partially multiplexed markers based on genes essential for mycotoxin biosynthesis (fumonisin--fum6, fum8; trichothecenes--tri5, tri6; zearalenone, zea2) in Fusarium spp. The protocol has been verified by screening a collection of 96 isolates representing diverse species of filamentous fungi. Each Fusarium isolate was taxonomically identified through both molecular and morphological techniques. The results demonstrate a reliable detection of toxigenic potential for trichothecenes (sensitivity 100%, specificity 95%), zearalenone (sensitivity 100%, specificity 100%) and fumonisins (sensitivity 94%, specificity 88%). Both presence and identity of toxin biosynthetic genes were further confirmed by direct sequencing of amplification products.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cross-species-specific PCR markers for key biosynthetic genes provide a sensitive detection of toxigenic fungal isolates, contaminating biological material derived from agricultural fields.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The conducted study shows that a PCR-based assay of biosynthetic genes is a reliable, cost-effective, early warning system against Fusarium contamination. Its future use as a high-throughput detection strategy complementing chemical assays enables effective targeted application of crop protection products.
authors.affiliation: Functional Evolution of Biological Systems Team, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dawidziuk
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koczyk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Popiel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaczmarek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buśko
mesh_terms: D037341:Fumonisins / Q000032:analysis; D005670:Fusarium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D037341:Fumonisins; D014255:Trichothecenes; C056933:fumonisin B1; D015025:Zearalenone
keywords: fungi; markers; mycotoxins; plant pathology