Abiotic conditions leading to FUM gene expression and fumonisin accumulation by Fusarium proliferatum strains grown on a wheat-based substrate.

Fusarium proliferatum produces fumonisins B not only on maize but also on diverse crops including wheat. Using a wheat-based medium, the effects of abiotic factors, temperature and water activity (aW), on growth, fumonisin biosynthesis, and expression of FUM genes were compared for three F. proliferatum strains isolated from durum wheat in Argentina. Although all isolates showed similar profiles of growth, the fumonisin production profiles were slightly different. Regarding FUM gene transcriptional control, both FUM8 and FUM19 expression showed similar behavior in all tested conditions. For both genes, expression at 25°C correlated with fumonisin production, regardless of the aw conditions. However, at 15°C, these two genes were as highly expressed as at 25°C although the amounts of toxin were very weak, suggesting that the kinetics of fumonisin production was slowed at 15°C. This study provides useful baseline data on conditions representing a low or a high risk for contamination of wheat kernels with fumonisins.

Occurrence of deoxynivalenol and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside in durum wheat from Argentina.

The occurrence of deoxynivalenol, 3- and 15-deoxynivalenol and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside in 84 durum wheat samples, from the Argentinean main growing area, was investigated during 2012/13 and 2013/14 using LC-MS/MS. Deoxynivalenol was found in all samples at concentrations varying between

Combined effect of chitosan and water activity on growth and fumonisin production by Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum on maize-based media.

The objectives of the present study were to determine the in vitro efficacy of chitosan (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0mg/mL) under different water availabilities (0.995, 0.99, 0.98, 0.96 and 0.93) at 25°C on lag phase, growth rate and fumonisin production by isolates of Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum. The presence of chitosan affected growth and fumonisin production, and this effect was dependent on the dose and aW treatment used. The presence of chitosan increased the lag phase, and reduced the growth rate of both Fusarium species significantly at all concentrations used, especially at 0.93 aW. Also, significant reduction of fumonisin production was observed in both Fusarium species at all conditions assayed. The present study has shown the combined effects of chitosan and aW on growth and fumonisin production by the two most important Fusarium species present on maize. Low molecular weight (Mw) chitosan with more than 70% of degree of deacetylation (DD) at 0.5mg/mL was able to significantly reduce growth rate and fumonisin production on maize-based media, with maximum levels of reduction in both parameters obtained at the highest doses used. As fumonisins are unavoidable contaminants in food and feed chains, their presence needs to be reduced to minimize their effects on human and animal health and to diminish the annual market loss through rejected maize. In this scenario post-harvest use of chitosan could be an important alternative treatment.

Occurrence of Fusarium spp. and fumonisin in durum wheat grains.

A survey was carried out to determine Fusarium species and fumonisin contamination in 55 durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) samples collected during two harvest seasons (2007 and 2008) using HPLC and further LC-MS/MS confirmation. All samples showed Fusarium contamination with infection levels ranging from 8 to 66%, F. proliferatum being the species most frequently isolated during 2007 and the second most frequently isolated one during the 2008 harvest season, respectively. Natural contamination with fumonisins was found in both harvest seasons. In 2007, 97% of the samples showed total fumonisin (FB(1) + FB(2)) levels ranging from 10.5 to 1245.7 ng/g, while very low levels of fumonisins were detected in samples collected during 2008. These results could be explained by differences in the amount of rainfall during both periods evaluated. A selected number (n = 48) of F. proliferatum isolates showed fumonisin production capability on autoclaved rice. This is the first report of the presence of natural fumonisins in durum wheat grains.

Alternaria Mycotoxins in Sunflower Seeds: Incidence and Distribution of the Toxins in Oil and Meal.

A survey of 150 sunflower-seed samples was carried out to evaluate the contamination from infection with Alternaria alternata with alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TA). A high percentage of the samples was contaminated with AOH (85%), AME, (47%), and TA (65%). The average levels detected were 187 µg/kg for AOH, 194 µg/kg for AME, and 6,692, µg/kg for TA. When sunflower seeds fermented by Alternaria alternata were processed under laboratory conditions to obtain the oil and meal, different distributions of Alternaria toxins between the oil and the meal were observed: whereas AOH, AME, and TA were detected in the meal, only AME and TA were detected in the oil, and the latter in a low percentage.