Genetic variability and fumonisin production by Fusarium proliferatum isolated from durum wheat grains in Argentina.
Fusarium proliferatum is a member of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) involved in the maize ear rot together with Fusarium verticillioides, which is a very closely related species. Recently, different studies have detected natural fumonisin contamination in wheat kernels and most of them have shown that the main species isolated was F. proliferatum. Fusarium strains obtained from freshly harvested durum wheat samples (2008 to 2011 harvest seasons) from Argentina were characterized through a phylogenetic analysis based on translation elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1α) and calmodulin (CaM) genes, determination of mating type alleles, and evaluation of fumonisin production capability. The strains were identified as F. proliferatum (72%), F. verticillioides (24%) and other Fusarium species. The ratio of mating type alleles (MAT-1 and MAT-2) obtained for both main populations suggests possible occurrence of sexual reproduction in the wheat fields, although this seems more frequent in F. proliferatum. Phylogenetic analysis revealed greater nucleotide variability in F. proliferatum strains than in F. verticillioides, however this was not related to origin, host or harvest year. The fumonisin-producing ability was detected in 92% of the strains isolated from durum wheat grains. These results indicate that F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides, among the fumonisin producing species, frequently contaminate durum wheat grains in Argentina, presenting a high risk for human and animal health.
Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta Nacional 36, Km 601, 5800 Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Palacios
Institute of Sciences of Food Production, CNR, Via Améndola 122/0, 70126 Bari, Italy.
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Susca
Institute of Sciences of Food Production, CNR, Via Améndola 122/0, 70126 Bari, Italy.
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Haidukowski
Institute of Sciences of Food Production, CNR, Via Améndola 122/0, 70126 Bari, Italy.
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Stea
Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta Nacional 36, Km 601, 5800 Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Cendoya
Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta Nacional 36, Km 601, 5800 Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Ramírez
Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta Nacional 36, Km 601, 5800 Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Chulze
Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta Nacional 36, Km 601, 5800 Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Farnochi
Institute of Sciences of Food Production, CNR, Via Améndola 122/0, 70126 Bari, Italy.
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Moretti
Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta Nacional 36, Km 601, 5800 Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: atorres@exa.unrc.edu.ar.
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Torres
D001118:Argentina; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000235:genetics; D037341:Fumonisins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D014908:Triticum / Q000382:microbiology*
D002147:Calmodulin; D037341:Fumonisins; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1
Fumonisins; Fusarium proliferatum; Fusarium verticillioides; Genetic variability; MAT alleles; Wheat