The vegetative compatibility group to which the<scp>US</scp>biocontrol agent<i>Aspergillus flavus</i><scp>AF</scp>36 belongs is also endemic to Mexico

Ortega‐Beltran, Alejandro; Grubisha, Lisa C.; Callicott, Kenneth A.; Cotty, Peter J.

doi:10.1111/jam.13047

Cited by 28 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 79 publications

(205 reference statements)

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“…For example, in haplotype H39, an A. parasiticus isolate from Argentina groups with global A. flavus isolates. Interestingly, haplotype H47 includes the AF36 biocontrol strain, and despite being sampled from different geographic regions (Arizona, USA; Texas, USA; Karnataka, India), all four of the nonaflatoxigenic strains in this haplotype have the same nonsense mutation in aflC (data not shown), which suggests dispersal that transcends geographic boundaries as reported in other studies (Grubisha & Cotty, 2015; Ortega‐Beltran, Grubisha, Callicott, & Cotty, 2016). Moreover, many nonaflatoxigenic A. flavus L isolates, from various localities, group with A. oryzae .…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 56%

Global population structure and adaptive evolution of aflatoxin‐producing fungi

Moore

Olarte

Horn

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Aflatoxins produced by several species in Aspergillus section Flavi are a significant problem in agriculture and a continuous threat to human health. To provide insights into the biology and global population structure of species in section Flavi, a total of 1,304 isolates were sampled across six species (A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A. nomius, A. caelatus, A. tamarii, and A. alliaceus) from single fields in major peanut‐growing regions in Georgia (USA), Australia, Argentina, India, and Benin (Africa). We inferred maximum‐likelihood phylogenies for six loci, both combined and separately, including two aflatoxin cluster regions (aflM/alfN and aflW/aflX) and four noncluster regions (amdS, trpC, mfs and MAT), to examine population structure and history. We also employed principal component and STRUCTURE analysis to identify genetic clusters and their associations with six different categories (geography, species, precipitation, temperature, aflatoxin chemotype profile, and mating type). Overall, seven distinct genetic clusters were inferred, some of which were more strongly structured by G chemotype diversity than geography. Populations of A. flavus S in Benin were genetically distinct from all other section Flavi species for the loci examined, which suggests genetic isolation. Evidence of trans‐speciation within two noncluster regions, whereby A. flavus SBG strains from Australia share haplotypes with either A. flavus or A. parasiticus, was observed. Finally, while clay soil and precipitation may influence species richness in Aspergillus section Flavi, other region‐specific environmental and genetic parameters must also be considered.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 56%

Global population structure and adaptive evolution of aflatoxin‐producing fungi

Moore

Olarte

Horn

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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“…However, atoxigenic phenotypes are highly stable. This has been demonstrated over decades in agroecosystems experimentally (Grubisha and Cotty, 2015;Ortega-Beltran et al, 2016). Stability even extends over evolutionary time (Adhikari et al, 2016).…”

Section: Recombination Between Atoxigenic and Toxigenic Vcgs In Naturmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Thus the association of specific SSR haplotypes with specific VCGs can only occur in a clonally (mitotically) reproducing fungus. Clonality and stability have been demonstrated in both toxigenic and atoxigenic VCGs Cotty, 2010, 2015;Ortega-Beltran et al, 2016).…”

Section: Recombination Between Atoxigenic and Toxigenic Vcgs In Naturmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Atoxigenic VCGs are used as biopesticides in areas where the active ingredients are native and have co-evolved with both other VCGs in the A. flavus population and native host plants. Results to date demonstrate that the VCGs used as active ingredients have high genetic stability across vast areas (Adhikari et al, 2016;Grubisha and Cotty, 2015;Ortega-Beltran et al, 2016). As biocontrol programs to reduce aflatoxin contamination of crops are pursued globally, development of biopesticides based on atoxigenic A. flavus VCGs native to target agroecosystems need to be pursued.…”

Section: Recombination Between Atoxigenic and Toxigenic Vcgs In Naturmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent example for the need of an aflatoxin biocontrol management tool in an area relatively unaffected by aflatoxin outbreaks occurred in Mexico. Aflatoxin contamination events were anticipated to occur in maize planted over hundreds of thousands of hectares as a result of an extended cropping season that resulted in maize exposure to hot, dry temperatures; however, biocontrol technologies were not available to farmers and this resulted in high aflatoxin concentrations with some maize lots contaminated with up to 500 µg/kg aflatoxin B 1 (Ortega-Beltran et al, 2016). Other nations should learn from this and other aflatoxin contamination episodes (e.g.…”

Section: Climate Change and Biocontrol Products For Aflatoxin Mitigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biological control of aflatoxins in Africa: current status and potential challenges in the face of climate change

Bandyopadhyay

Ortega‐Beltran

Akande

et al. 2016

WMJ

Self Cite

254

311

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Aflatoxin contamination of crops is frequent in warm regions across the globe, including large areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Crop contamination with these dangerous toxins transcends health, food security, and trade sectors. It cuts across the value chain, affecting farmers, traders, markets, and finally consumers. Diverse fungi within Aspergillus section Flavi contaminate crops with aflatoxins. Within these Aspergillus communities, several genotypes are not capable of producing aflatoxins (atoxigenic). Carefully selected atoxigenic genotypes in biological control (biocontrol) formulations efficiently reduce aflatoxin contamination of crops when applied prior to flowering in the field. This safe and environmentally friendly, effective technology was pioneered in the US, where well over a million acres of susceptible crops are treated annually. The technology has been improved for use in sub-Saharan Africa, where efforts are under way to develop biocontrol products, under the trade name Aflasafe, for 11 African nations. The number of participating nations is expected to increase. In parallel, state of the art technology has been developed for large-scale inexpensive manufacture of Aflasafe products under the conditions present in many African nations. Results to date indicate that all Aflasafe products, registered and under experimental use, reduce aflatoxin concentrations in treated crops by >80% in comparison to untreated crops in both field and storage conditions. Benefits of aflatoxin biocontrol technologies are discussed along with potential challenges, including climate change, likely to be faced during the scaling-up of Aflasafe products. Lastly, we respond to several apprehensions expressed in the literature about the use of atoxigenic genotypes in biocontrol formulations. These responses relate to the following apprehensions: sorghum as carrier, distribution costs, aflatoxin-conscious markets, efficacy during drought, post-harvest benefits, risk of allergies and/or aspergillosis, influence of Aflasafe on other mycotoxins and on soil microenvironment, dynamics of Aspergillus genotypes, and recombination between atoxigenic and toxigenic genotypes in natural conditions.

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