A survey of Fusarium species and ADON genotype on Canadian wheat grain

Abstract

IntroductionWheat is a staple food that is important to global food security, but in epidemic years, fungal pathogens can threaten production, quality, and safety of wheat grain. Globally, one of the most important fungal diseases of wheat is Fusarium head blight (FHB). This disease can be caused by several different Fusarium species with known differences in aggressiveness and mycotoxin-production potential, with the trichothecene toxin deoxynivalenol (DON) and its derivatives being of particular concern. In North America, the most predominant species causing FHB is F. graminearum, which has two distinct sub-populations that are commonly classified into two main chemotypes/genotypes based on their propensity to form trichothecene derivatives, namely 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON).Materials and methodsWe used a panel of 13 DNA markers to perform species and ADON genotype identification for 55, 444 wheat kernels from 7, 783 samples originating from across Canada from 2014 to 2020.Results and discussionBased on single-seed analyses, we demonstrate the relationships between Fusarium species and trichothecene chemotype with sample year, sample location, wheat species (hexaploid and durum wheat), severity of Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK), and accumulation of DON. Results indicate that various Fusarium species are present across wheat growing regions in Canada; however, F. graminearum is the most common species and 3-ADON the most common genotype. We observed an increase in the occurrence of the 3-ADON genotype, particularly in the western Prairie regions. Our data provides important information on special-temporal trends in Fusarium species and chemotypes that can aid with the implementation of integrated disease management strategies to control the detrimental effects of this devastating disease.

Ergot of cereals: Toxins, pathogens and management

“…With advances in low‐cost and high‐throughput DNA testing (i.e., DNA sequencing and genotyping arrays) and toxin monitoring (i.e., simple immunoassays), it is now possible to bring added value to large‐scale monitoring programmes of plant pathogens, such as ergot (Bamforth et al., 2022; Walkowiak et al., 2022). Disease monitoring programmes remain critical for understanding pathogen dynamics and emerging pathogen populations and strains so that strategies can be developed to better mitigate the disease and minimize ergot toxins in food and feed systems.…”

Identification of Fusarium head blight sources of resistance and associated QTLs in historical and modern Canadian spring wheat

“…A follow-up study confirmed the high prevalence of F. graminearum in eastern Canada, accounting for ~90% of nine fungal species identified in 492 spring wheat sampled between 2001 and 2017 in Ontario ( Xue et al., 2019 ). In recent years, however, F. graminearum has become the predominant causal agent of FHB not only in eastern Canada but also in the three major wheat-producing Prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta ( Valverde-Bogantes et al., 2020 ; Bamforth et al., 2022 ). For example, Bamforth et al.…”

“…In recent years, however, F. graminearum has become the predominant causal agent of FHB not only in eastern Canada but also in the three major wheat-producing Prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta ( Valverde-Bogantes et al., 2020 ; Bamforth et al., 2022 ). For example, Bamforth et al. (2022) studied a total of 7,783 durum and bread wheat samples originated from several farms between 2014 and 2020 in eastern and western Canada.…”

“…In recent years, however, F. graminearum has become the predominant causal agent of FHB not only in eastern Canada but also in the three major wheat-producing Prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta (Valverde-Bogantes et al, 2020;Bamforth et al, 2022). For example, Bamforth et al (2022) studied a total of 7,783 durum and bread wheat samples originated from several farms between 2014 and 2020 in eastern and western Canada. Although their results showed a fluctuation in species abundance over the years, F. graminearum was the most abundant species in both eastern and western Canada and accounted for 75-95% of the total pathogen populations, followed by F. avenaceum (10%), and F. acuminatum (5%).…”