The Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) can produce various mycotoxins and is a major concern for food quantity and quality worldwide. In this study, we determined the effects of water activity (aw), temperature, incubation time and their interactions on mycotoxin accumulation and the expression levels of biosynthetic genes in FGSC strains from maize samples in China. The highest deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol(3ADON) and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15ADON) levels of the F. boothii and F. graminearum strains were observed at 0.98 aw/30 °C or 0.99 aw/25 °C. F. asiaticum and F. meridionale reached maximum nivalenol (NIV) and 4-acetylnivalenol (4ANIV) contents at 0.99 aw and 30 °C. With the extension of the incubation time, the concentrations of DON and NIV gradually increased, while those of their derivatives decreased. F. boothii, F. meridionale and one F. asiaticum strain had the highest zearalenone (ZEN) values at 0.95 aw and 25 °C, while the optimum conditions for the other F. asiaticum strain and F. graminearum were 0.99 aw and 30 °C. Four genes associated with trichothecene and zearalenone synthesis were significantly induced under higher water stress in the early stage of production. The results indicated independence of mycotoxin production and gene expression, as maximum amounts of these toxic metabolites were observed at higher aw in most cases. This study provides useful information for the monitoring and prevention of such toxins entering the maize production chain.
Keywords: Fusarium graminearum species complex; Gene expression; Mycotoxin; Temperature; Water activity.
© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Microbiological Society of Korea.