Heat- and cold-shock responses in Fusarium graminearum 3 acetyl- and 15 acetyl-deoxynivalenol chemotypes

J Microbiol. 2012 Feb;50(1):97-102. doi: 10.1007/s12275-012-1381-5. Epub 2012 Feb 27.

Abstract

Fusarium graminearum Schwabe is the primary cause of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in North America. Chemically distinct F. graminearum sub-populations can be identified based on the type or composition of deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxin derivatives, including 3-acetyl (3-ADON) and 15-acetyl (15-ADON). The evaluation of randomly selected 3-ADON and 15-ADON isolates, collected from spring wheat throughout Canada, was performed using thin layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ice-nucleation activity (INA), and heat and cold tolerance tests conducted within a temperature range of -70°C to 65°C. The results indicated that the 3-ADON sub-population, which is responsible for the highest disease severity and has rapidly displaced the 15-ADON sub-population, produces more DON and zearalenone (ZEA) than the 15-ADON sub-population when exposed to heat and cold. Following exposures (1 and 2 h) to extremely high or low temperatures, 3-ADON isolates exhibited faster mycelial growth than 15-ADON isolates. In addition, the warmest temperature at which INA activity occurred was in 3-ADON (-3.6°C) vs. 15-ADON (-5.1°C). Taken together, these features suggest that the newly emerging 3-ADON sub-population is more resilient than the resident 15-ADON sub-population. Overall, the differences between the two sub-populations could provide new insights into FHB epidemiology and if validated under field conditions, may provide important information for predicting future FHB epidemics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Canada
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer
  • Cold Temperature
  • Cold-Shock Response*
  • Fusarium / chemistry*
  • Fusarium / growth & development
  • Fusarium / radiation effects*
  • Heat-Shock Response*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Time Factors
  • Trichothecenes / analysis*
  • Triticum / microbiology

Substances

  • Trichothecenes
  • deoxynivalenol