Phylogenetic analyses of Fusarium graminearum strains from cereals in Italy, and characterisation of their molecular and chemical chemotypes

Abstract

The Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) is a pathogen of durum wheat and other cereals worldwide. The complex consists of at least 15 species that can produce various mycotoxins, including trichothecenes, associated with human and animals toxicoses. In particular, deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV) and their different acetylated derivatives can be produced by the different chemotypes of the complex. In this study, 90 strains, isolated mainly from wheat in Italy and belonging to the FGSC, were assessed for their phylogeny and their chemotype and trichothecene genotype. Almost all strains of the FGSC belonged to F. graminearum sensu stricto, whereas two strains were F. cortaderiae. On the other hand, all three chemotypes, 3ADON, 15ADON and NIV, occurred; 15ADON was the most common molecular chemotype. The data show that the species composition of the Italian FGSC is homogeneous, whereas wide chemotype variability can occur within F. graminearum sensu stricto.

Genetic and phenotypic diversity within the Fusarium graminearum species complex in Norway

“…The 3- isolates belonging to population 2 were included in the analysis of aggressiveness, ten of these were included in the growth rate analysis c 17 3-ADON isolates were included in the analysis of aggressiveness, 16 of these were included in the growth rate analysis ADON chemotype also predominated among a small set of FGSC isolates from an earlier collection of Norwegian cereals (Langseth et al 1999(Langseth et al , 2001, and was found in oat and wheat samples collected between 2009 and 2011 in Sweden, whereas the 15-ADON chemotype was not observed (Fredlund et al 2013;Lindblad et al 2013 (Nielsen et al 2012). Our data add to a growing set of studies indicating a geographical partitioning of trichothecene types (chemotypes or genotypes) throughout Europe, with 3-ADON dominating in Northern Europe, whereas 15-ADON appears predominant in the Western and Southern Europe including the UK (Jennings et al 2004), Belgium (Audenaert et al 2009), Italy (Prodi et al 2009;Somma et al 2014), Luxembourg (Pasquali et al 2010), Poland (Stępień et al 2008), Hungary (Toth et al 2005), Germany (Talas et al 2011), and France (Boutigny et al 2014). …”

“…In addition, isolates with NIV genotypes were absent from our sample, but account for at least 10 % of the FGSC isolates in some other parts of Europe (Jennings et al 2004;Waalwijk et al 2003;Boutigny et al 2014;Stępień et al 2008;Somma et al 2014). The distribution of trichothecene types is likely influenced directly or indirectly by a variety of factors including climate, regional host composition, agricultural practices, and the recent and historical movement of pathogen populations into new areas.…”

“…F. graminearum has a cosmopolitan distribution (O'Donnell et al 2000;Backhouse 2014) and is the dominant member of the FGSC in Europe (Laday et al 2004;O'Donnell et al 2004;Toth et al 2005;Yli-Mattila et al 2009). In fact, F. graminearum has been the only representative of the FGSC reported from Europe with the exception of a small number of F. boothii and F. vorosii isolates from Hungary (Toth et al 2005;Starkey et al 2007), a similarly small numbers of F. cortaderiae and F. boothii × F. graminearum hybrids from France (Boutigny et al 2014), and two F. cortaderiae isolates from Italy (Somma et al 2014). Species within the FGSC produce type B trichothecenes such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (Aoki et al 2012).…”

Crops are a main driver for species diversity and the toxigenic potential ofFusarium isolates in maize ears in China

“…In South Korea, four species within the FGSC were associated with FER and F. graminearum was predominant . A similar situation was also found in France and Italy, where F. graminearum was the main causal agents of FER (Boutigny et al, 2014;Somma et al, 2014). Within the FGSC there are three types of trichothecene mycotoxin producers (chemotypes): (1) nivalenol (NIV) producers and acetylated derivatives; (2) deoxynivalenol (DON) and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON); and (3) DON and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON;Miller et al, 1991).…”

“…Within the FGSC there are three types of trichothecene mycotoxin producers (chemotypes): (1) nivalenol (NIV) producers and acetylated derivatives; (2) deoxynivalenol (DON) and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON); and (3) DON and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON;Miller et al, 1991). The vast majority of F. graminearum isolates reported on maize in France, Korea and China were 15-ADON producers (Boutigny et al, 2014;Lee et al, 2012;Ndoye et al, 2012) while in Europe a small population of NIV producers was found (Boutigny et al, 2014;Ndoye et al, 2012;Somma et al, 2014). Most F. asiaticum on maize in Asia produce NIV (Desjardins and Proctor, 2011;Lee et al, 2012;Ndoye et al, 2012), while F. meridionale and F. boothii isolates seem to be fixed for NIV and 15-ADON production, respectively.…”