Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fusarium temperatum, a mycotoxin-producing pathogen of maize

  • Published:
European Journal of Plant Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In a recent study, a population of Fusarium strains isolated from maize in Belgium was described as a new species, F. temperatum, that is morphologically similar and phylogenetically closely related to F. subglutinans, a species in the American clade of the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex. In fields, the F. temperatum:F. subglutinans ratio was very high, suggesting that F. temperatum outcompetes its sister species F. subglutinans. This raised the question whether this novel species contributes to the final rot symptoms observed on maize plants at harvest, as well as to the potential mycotoxin contamination. Results of the pathogenicity tests by soil and toothpick inoculation demonstrate the ability of F. temperatum to cause seedling malformation and stalk rot under greenhouse conditions. Screening of 15 Fusarium mycotoxins showed the ability of F. temperatum to produce moniliformin, beauvericin, enniatins and fumonisin B1. The results indicate that F. temperatum can produce mycotoxins and cause maize diseases and, therefore, poses a potential risk to maize production and to the safety of human food and animal feed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ares, J. L. A., Ferro, R. C. A., Ramirez, L. C., & Gonzales, J. M. (2004). Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, a maize root and stalk rot pathogen isolated from lodged plants in northwest Spain. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 2, 249–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bottalico, A. (1998). Fusarium diseases of cereals: species complex and related mycotoxin profiles, in Europe. Journal of Plant Pathology, 80, 85–103.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Britz, H., Coutinho, T. A., Wingfield, M. J., Marasas, W. F. O., Gordon, T. R., & Leslie, J. F. (1999). Fusarium subglutinans f. sp. pini represents a distinct mating population in the Giberrella fujikuroi species complex. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 65, 1198–1201.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Danielsen, S., Meyer, U. M., & Funck Jensen, D. (1998). Genetic characteristics of Fusarium verticillioides isolates from maize in Costa Rica. Plant Pathology, 47, 615–622.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desjardins, A. E. (2006). Fusarium mycotoxins: chemistry, genetics and biology. Saint Paul: APS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desjardins, A. E., Maragos, C. M., & Proctor, R. H. (2006). Maize ear rot and moniliformin contamination by cryptic species of Fusarium subglutinans. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 54, 7383–7390.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Desjardins, A. E., Plattner, R. D., Nelsen, T. C., & Leslie, J. F. (1995). Genetic analysis of fumonisin production and virulence of Gibberella fujikuroi mating population A (Fusarium moniliforme) on maize (Zea mays) seedlings. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 61, 79–86.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dorn, B., Forrer, H. R., Schürch, S., & Vogelgsang, S. (2009). Fusarium species complex on maize in Switzerland: occurrence, prevalence, impact and mycotoxins in commercial hybrids under natural infection. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 125, 51–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fotso, J., Leslie, J. F., & Smith, J. S. (2002). Production of beauvericin, moniliformin, fusaproliferin, and fumonisins B1, B2 and B3 by ex-type strains of fifteen Fusarium species. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 68, 5195–5197.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goertz, A., Zühlke, S., Spiteller, M., Steiner, U., Dehne, H. W., Waalwijk, C., de Vries, P. M., & Oerke, E. C. (2010). Fusarium species and mycotoxin profiles on commercial maize hybrids in Germany. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 128, 101–111.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jestoi, M. (2008). Emerging Fusarium-mycotoxins fusaproliferin, beauvericin, enniatins, and moniliformin – a review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 48, 21–49.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kvas, M., Marasas, W. F. O., Wingfield, B. D., Wingfield, M. J., & Steenkamp, E. T. (2009). Diversity and evolution of Fusarium species in the Gibberella fujikuroi complex. Fungal Diversity, 34, 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leslie, J. F., & Summerell, B. A. (2006). The Fusarium laboratory manual. Ames: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leslie, J. F., Zeller, K. A., Logrieco, A., Mulè, G., Moretti, A., & Ritieni, A. (2004). Species diversity of and toxin production by Gibberella fujikuroi species complex strains isolated from native prairie grasses in Kansas. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 70, 2254–2262.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lew, H., Adler, A., & Edinger, W. (1997). Dynamics of the Fusarium toxin distribution in maize plants affected by stalk rot. Cereal Research Communications, 25, 467–470.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Logrieco, A., Moretti, A., Castella, G., Kostecki, M., Golinski, P., Ritieni, A., & Chelkowski, J. (1998). Beauvericin production by Fusarium species. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 64, 3084–3088.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Logrieco, A., Mulè, G., Moretti, A., & Bottalico, A. (2002). Toxigenic Fusarium species and mycotoxins associated with maize ear rot in Europe. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 108, 597–609.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maiorano, A., Blandino, M., Reyneri, A., & Vanara, F. (2008). Effects of maize residues on the Fusarium spp. infection and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination of wheat grain. Crop Protection, 27, 182–188.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marasas, W. F. O., Nelson, P. E., & Toussoun, T. A. (1984). Toxigenic Fusarium species: identity and mycotoxicology. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moretti, A., Logrieco, A., Bottalico, A., Ritieni, A., Randazzo, G., & Corda, P. (1995). Beauvericin production by Fusarium subglutinans from different geographical areas. Mycological Research, 99, 282–286.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moretti, A., Mulé, G., Ritieni, A., Láday, M., Stubnya, V., Hornok, L., & Logrieco, A. (2008). Cryptic subspecies and beauvericin production by Fusarium subglutinans from Europe. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 127, 312–315.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moretti, A., Mule, G., Ritieni, A., & Logrieco, A. (2007). Further data on the production of beauvericin, enniatins and fusaproliferin and toxicity to Artemia salina by Fusarium species of Gibberella fujikuroi species complex. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 118, 158–163.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Munkvold, G. P. (2003). Epidemiology of Fusarium diseases and their mycotoxins in maize ears. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 109, 705–713.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, P. E., Plattner, R. D., Shackelford, D. D., & Desjardins, A. E. (1992). Fumonisin B1 production by Fusarium species other than F. moniliforme in section Liseola and by some related species. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 58, 984–989.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, P. E., Toussoun, T. A., & Marasas, W. F. O. (1983). Fusarium species: an illustrated manual for identification. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nirenberg, H. I., & O’Donnell, K. (1998). New Fusarium species and combinations within the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex. Mycologia, 90, 434–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Donnell, K., Nirenberg, H. I., Aoki, T., & Cigelnik, E. (2000). A multigene phylogeny of the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex: detection of additional phylogenetically distinct species. Mycoscience, 41, 61–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Picot, A., Hourcade-Marcolla, D., Barreau, C., Pinson-Gadais, L., Caron, D., Richard-Forget, F., & Lannou, C. (2011). Interactions between Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium graminearum in maize ears and consequences for fungal development and mycotoxin accumulation. Plant Pathology. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3059.2011.02503.x.

  • Proctor, R. H., Plattner, R. D., Brown, D. W., Seo, J., & Lee, Y. (2004). Discontinuous distribution of fumonisin biosynthetic genes in the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex. Mycological Research, 108, 815–822.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rheeder, J. P., Marasas, W. F. O., & Vismer, H. F. (2002). Production of fumonisin analogs by Fusarium species. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 68, 2101–2105.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scauflaire, J., Gourgue, M., & Munaut, F. (2011a). Fusarium temperatum sp. nov. from maize, an emergent species closely related to Fusarium subglutinans. Mycologia, 103, 586–597.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scauflaire, J., Mahieu, O., Louvieaux, J., Foucart, G., Renard, F., & Munaut, F. (2011b). Biodiversity of Fusarium species in ears and stalks of maize plants in Belgium. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 131, 59–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shephard, G. S., Sewram, V., Nieuwoudt, T. W., Marasas, W. F. O., & Ritieni, A. (1999). Production of the mycotoxins fusaproliferin and beauvericin by South African isolates in the Fusarium section Liseola. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 47, 5111–5115.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steenkamp, E. T., Wingfield, B. D., Coutinho, T. A., Wingfield, M. J., & Marasas, W. F. O. (1999). Differentiation of Fusarium subglutinans f. sp. pini by histone gene sequence data. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 65, 3401–3406.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steenkamp, E. T., Wingfield, B. D., Desjardins, A. E., Marasas, W. F. O., & Wingfield, M. J. (2002). Cryptic speciation in Fusarium subglutinans. Mycologia, 94, 1032–1043.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stępień, L., Koczyk, G., & Waśkiewicz, A. (2011). FUM cluster divergence in fumonisins-producing Fusarium species. Fungal Biology, 115, 112–123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zeller, K. A., Summerell, B. A., Bullock, S., & Leslie, J. F. (2003). Gibberella konza (Fusarium konzum) sp. nov. from prairie grasses, a new species in the Gibberella fiujikuroi species complex. Mycologia, 95, 943–954.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Direction Générale de l’Agriculture, Direction de la Recherche, ref. 1217, in the framework of the project Caractérisation et dynamique des fusarioses sur maïs en Région Wallonne. We thank the FYMY for providing the greenhouses for the research and for technical assistance. F. Munaut is funded by the Mycothèque de l’Université catholique de Louvain (BCCMTM /MUCL).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earth and Life Institute, Laboratory of Mycology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2, L7.05.06, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

    Jonathan Scauflaire & Mélanie Gourgue

  2. Centre d’Etude et de Recherches Vétérinaires et Agrochimiques, Leuvensesteenweg 17, 3080, Tervuren, Belgium

    Alfons Callebaut

  3. Université catholique de Louvain, Earth and Life Institute, Laboratory of Mycology, Mycothèque de l’Université catholique de Louvain, Université catholique de Louvain (BCCM™/MUCL), Croix du Sud 2, L7.05.06, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

    Françoise Munaut

Authors
  1. Jonathan Scauflaire
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mélanie Gourgue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alfons Callebaut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Françoise Munaut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Françoise Munaut.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Scauflaire, J., Gourgue, M., Callebaut, A. et al. Fusarium temperatum, a mycotoxin-producing pathogen of maize. Eur J Plant Pathol 133, 911–922 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-012-9958-8

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-012-9958-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation