Effect of flavonoid pigments on the accumulation of fumonisin B1 in the maize kernel

Abstract

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites with potential dangers for animal and human health. In particular, maize (Zea mays L.) infection caused by Fusarium and the consequent fumonisin contamination is widespread in several countries such as Italy. We developed six maize populations differing in their constitution of regulatory genes able to accumulate respectively anthocyanins in the aleurone layer (r1 gene), pericarp (b1 and pl1 genes) and phlobaphene in the pericarp (p1 gene). These coloured populations, with the related control colourless populations were analysed for mycotoxin content in the kernels during three field seasons with the aim of understanding if there were any correlations with their ability to accumulate flavonoids in kernel tissues. Our results indicate that accumulation of flavonoid pigments in the seeds, in particular phlobaphenes, is able to reduce the level of fumonisin B1. This finding could be used to minimize kernel mycotoxin contamination in this crop, in particular, the development of sweet, pop and polenta coloured corn varieties will help the farmer to keep the level of fumonisin under the threshold of contamination established for human corn consumption.

Phlobaphenes modify pericarp thickness in maize and accumulation of the fumonisin mycotoxins

“…Preliminary results indicated that phlobaphene pigments could be associated with a reduced level of mycotoxin contamination, in particular a reduction in fumonisin B1, in maize kernels, as reported in our previous paper 15 .…”

“…Preliminary data had shown the role of phlobaphenes and other flavonoids accumulated in maize pericarp on the reduction of fungal ear rot and fumonisins accumulation 15,33 . The phlobaphenes and other secondary metabolites are accumulated in many ancient landraces traditionally cultivated in the Padana Plane and in mountainous regions of Northern Italy 29,33 .…”

Nutritional intervention with cyanidin hinders the progression of muscular dystrophy

“…Maize genotypes were originally in W22 background, homozygous dominant for the a1, a2, c1, c2, bz1 and bz2 genes, homozygous recessive for the r1 gene and different b1 pl1 constitution. To obtain cyanidin-rich and cyanidinfree corn with an isogenic background, a maize cyanidinrich hybrid was used carrying the B1 and Pl1 alleles (Red diet, RD), which confer purple pigmentation in seed pericarp and all plant tissues [41][42][43][44] . Plant and seed tissues carrying b1 pl1 alleles are cyanidin-free (Yellow diet, YD).…”

Effect of preventive and curative fungicide treatment on Fusarium proliferatum infected maize — a field trial

“…The presumable cause of the reduced flavone/flavanol content was the plant defense mechanisms as it was concluded in the case of winter wheat (Buśko et al, 2014). Alternatively, the flavonoids took part in the reaction to quinine inhibitor and the reduction of the level of FB1 in the pericarp (Pilu et al, 2011). Moreover, other polyphenols were increased in their concentration at the same time as the total polyphenol concentration did not change significantly.…”

“…The relationships between the resistance and the mycotoxin production have been well documented (e.g. Pilu et al, 2011). The resistance to Fusarium spp.…”