Characterization of Nivalenol-Producing Fusarium culmorum Isolates Obtained from the Air at a Rice Paddy Field in Korea.
Together with the Fusarium graminearum species complex, F. culmorum is a major member of the causal agents of Fusarium head blight on cereals such as wheat, barley and corn. It causes significant yield and quality losses and results in the contamination of grain with mycotoxins that are harmful to humans and animals. In Korea, F. culmorum is listed as a quarantine fungal species since it has yet to be found in the country. In this paper, we report that two isolates (J1 and J2) of F. culmorum were collected from the air at a rice paddy field in Korea. Species identification was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis using multi-locus sequence data derived from five genes encoding translation elongation factor, histone H3, phosphate permease, a reductase, and an ammonia ligase and by morphological comparison with reference strains. Both diagnostic PCR and chemical analysis confirmed that these F. culmorum isolates had the capacity to produce nivalenol, the trichothecene mycotoxin, in rice substrate. In addition, both isolates were pathogenic on wheat heads and corn stalks. This is the first report on the occurrence of F. culmorum in Korea.
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan 31538, Korea.
Da-Woon
DW
Kim
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan 31538, Korea.
Gi-Yong
GY
Kim
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan 31538, Korea.
Hee-Kyoung
HK
Kim
Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea.
Jueun
J
Kim
Division of Food Technology, Biotechnology & Agrochemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea.
Sun Jeong
SJ
Jeon
Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea.
Chul Won
CW
Lee
Division of Food Technology, Biotechnology & Agrochemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea.
Hyang Burm
HB
Lee
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan 31538, Korea.
Sung-Hwan
SH
Yun
Fusarium culmorum; Fusarium head blight; nivalenol production; rice paddy field air