Diaporthaceae associated with root and crown rot of maize.

Several isolates of coelomycetous fungi with pigmented conidia were consistently isolated from diseased roots of Zea mays in irrigated plots monitored in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. Based on their morphology, these isolates could be identified as representative of Stenocarpella macrospora, S. maydis, and Phaeocytostroma ambiguum. Although species of Stenocarpella are well-known as causal agents of cob and stalk rot and leaf blight of maize in South Africa, the occurrence and importance of P. ambiguum is less well documented and understood. To determine the role of P. ambiguum as a root pathogen of maize, pathogenicity tests were conducted under glasshouse conditions at 18 °C night and 28 °C day temperatures using a pasteurised soil, river sand and perlite medium and a 0.5 % sand-bran inoculum. Based on these results, P. ambiguum was shown to be a primary pathogen of maize, but to be less virulent than the positive control, S. maydis. Furthermore, to clarify the higher-level phylogeny of these fungal genera, isolates were subjected to DNA sequencing of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS & LSU). Partial gene sequences of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene were added to confirm the species monophyly. To resolve the generic placement of Phaeocytostroma, additional species such as P. sacchari, P. plurivorum and P. megalosporum were also added to the analysis. Based on these results, Stenocarpella and Phaeocytostroma were shown to be two well defined genera, belonging to Diaporthales, Diaporthaceae, being closely allied to Phomopsis (Diaporthe). All three genera were also observed to form alpha as well as beta conidia, and although this phenomenon is well documented for Phomopsis and Phaeocytostroma, it is a new observation for Stenocarpella. In spite of the differences in conidial pigmentation, no support could be obtained for polyphyly in Diaporthaceae, suggesting that as observed in Botryosphaeriaceae (Botryosphaeriales), conidial pigmentation is not informative at the family level in Diaporthales.

The application of high-throughput AFLP's in assessing genetic diversity in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense.

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is responsible for fusarium wilt of bananas. The pathogen consists of several variants that are divided into three races and 21 vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs). Several DNA-based techniques have previously been used to analyse the worldwide population of Foc, sometimes yielding results that were not always consistent. In this study, the high-resolution genotyping method of AFLP is introduced as a potentially effective molecular tool to investigate diversity in Foc at a genome-wide level. The population selected for this study included Foc isolates representing different VCGs and races, isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. dianthi, a putatively non-pathogenic biological control strain F. oxysporum (Fo47), and F. circinatum. High-throughput AFLP analysis was attained using five different infrared dye-labelled primer combinations using a two-dye model 4200s LI-COR automated DNA analyser. An average of approx. 100 polymorphic loci were scored for each primer pair using the SAGA(MX) automated AFLP analysis software. Data generated from five primer pair combinations were combined and subjected to distance analysis, which included the use of neighbour-joining and a bootstrap of 1000 replicates. A tree inferred from AFLP distance analysis revealed the polyphyletic nature of the Foc isolates, and seven genotypic groups could be identified. The results indicate that AFLP is a powerful tool to perform detailed analysis of genetic diversity in the banana pathogen Foc.

Fumonisin production by Fusarium species isolated from freshly harvested corn in Iran.

Fifty-one strains of Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum isolated from corn collected from four different geographic areas in Iran, namely Fars, Khuzestan, Kermanshah and Mazandaran (an endemic oesophageal cancer (OC) area) were evaluated for their ability to produce fumonisins B1 (FB1), B2 (FB2) and B3 (FB3) in corn culture. Fumonisin levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. All tested strains of F. verticillioides and F. proliferatumproduced fumonisins within a wide range of concentrations, 197-9661 microg/g, 18-1974 microg/g, and 21-1725 microg/g for FB1, FB2, and FB3, respectively. The highest mean concentrations of FB1, FB2, and FB3 were 3897, 806 and 827 microg/g, respectively. Overall, 61% of the F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum strains produced higher levels of FB3 than FB2. The mean ratios of FB1:FB2, FB1:FB3 and FB1:total fumonisins were 8, 7 and 0.7 for F. verticillioides and 5.7, 10.7 and 0.7 for F. proliferatum, respectively. Significant differences in some of the meteorological data (rainfall, relative humidity and minimum temperature) from the four provinces were observed. Fumonisin levels produced by F. verticillioides strains isolated from Khuzestan province (tropical zone) were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than the other three provinces. This is the first report of the fumonisin-producing ability of F.verticillioides and F. proliferatum strains isolated from corn harvested from different geographic areas in Iran.

Fumonisins disrupt sphingolipid metabolism, folate transport, and neural tube development in embryo culture and in vivo: a potential risk factor for human neural tube defects among populations consuming fumonisin-contaminated maize.

Fumonisins are a family of toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides (formerly Fusarium moniliforme), a common fungal contaminant of maize. Fumonisins inhibit ceramide synthase, causing accumulation of bioactive intermediates of sphingolipid metabolism (sphinganine and other sphingoid bases and derivatives) as well as depletion of complex sphingolipids, which interferes with the function of some membrane proteins, including the folate-binding protein (human folate receptor alpha). Fumonisin causes neural tube and craniofacial defects in mouse embryos in culture. Many of these effects are prevented by supplemental folic acid. Recent studies in LMBc mice found that fumonisin exposure in utero increases the frequency of developmental defects and administration of folate or a complex sphingolipid is preventive. High incidences of neural tube defects (NTD) occur in some regions of the world where substantial consumption of fumonisins has been documented or plausibly suggested (Guatemala, South Africa, and China); furthermore, a recent study of NTD in border counties of Texas found a significant association between NTD and consumption of tortillas during the first trimester. Hence, we propose that fumonisins are potential risk factors for NTD, craniofacial anomalies, and other birth defects arising from neural crest cells because of their apparent interference with folate utilization.

Fumonisin B1-induced hepatocellular and cholangiocellular tumors in male Fischer 344 rats: potentiating effects of 2-acetylaminofluorene on oval cell proliferation and neoplastic development in a discontinued feeding study.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a naturally occurring mycotoxin produced by Fusarium verticillioides. Dietary exposure to FB1 has been linked to human cancer in certain parts of the world, and treatment with FB1 causes oval cell proliferation and liver tumors in rats. To study the potential role of oval (liver progenitor) cells in the cellular pathogenesis of FB1-induced liver tumors, we gave male F344 rats prolonged treatment with FB1 for 25 weeks, followed by return to control diet until 50 weeks ('stop study'). The time course of FB1-induced liver lesions was followed by examination of serial liver biopsies at set time intervals and post-mortem liver tissue at the end of the study. The effects of different FB1 treatment regimens (5 versus 25 weeks), as well as the modulating effect of 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), on the kinetics of oval cell proliferation and development of liver tumors were compared. Prolonged treatment with FB1 in normal diet caused persistent oval cell proliferation and generation of both hepatic adenomas and cholangiofibromas (CFs). These liver lesions occurred in the setting of chronic toxic hepatitis and liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, similar to that seen in human hepatocarcinogenesis. Some adenomas and CFs were dysplastic, and one post-mortem liver contained a hepatocellular carcinoma. OV-6+ oval cells were noted in close relation to proliferative neoplastic liver lesions, and some of these lesions expressed OV-6, suggesting that all these cell types were derived from a common progenitor cell. 2-AAF enhanced the size of FB1-induced glutathione S-transferase pi+ hepatocellular lesions and the incidence of CFs in post-mortem liver specimens, but this was not statistically significant. In conclusion, this study supports the involvement of dietary FB1 in liver carcinogenesis in male F344 rats. Oval cells may be the source of both the hepatocellular and cholangiocellular tumors induced by prolonged treatment with FB1. 2-AAF appears to have an enhancing effect on FB1-induced liver tumors, presumably due to its potent inhibitory effects on hepatocyte regeneration.

Fumonisin contamination and fusarium incidence in corn from Santa Catarina, Brazil.

In Brazil, the southern region has the highest incidence of esophageal cancer and also the highest production and consumption of corn (Zea mays) products. Corn samples intended for human consumption from the western, northern, and southern regions of the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, had mean total fumonisin B (B(1), B(2), and B(3)) levels of 3.2, 3.4, and 1.7 mg/kg, respectively. Fusarium verticillioides, the predominant fungus in the corn samples, had mean incidences (percent of kernels infected) of 14, 11, and 18% for the three regions, respectively. Additional corn samples intended for animal feed from the southern region had a mean total fumonisin level of 1.5 mg/kg and a mean F. verticillioides incidence of 10%. The fumonisin levels in corn from the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, were similar to the high levels determined in other high esophageal cancer incidence regions of the world.

Cancer patterns in four districts of the Transkei region--1991-1995.

BACKGROUND: Oesophageal cancer (OC) is an important public health problem among the Xhosa-speaking people of the Transkei region in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, with incidence rates for males among the highest in the world. OBJECTIVES: To record the occurrence of cancer among men and women of all ages in four districts in the Transkei during the period 1991-1995, to identify common cancers and to compare the variations in cancer incidences in this region with incidences in Africa and the rest of the world. DESIGN: Cancer registration of cases reported from all clinics and hospitals was conducted in the four selected districts. SETTING: The districts included Centane (Kentani), Butterworth, Bizana and Lusikisiki in the Transkei region. METHODS: Active and passive methods were used to collect data, which were analysed using the Statistical Analyses Systems (SAS) package. RESULTS: The mean annual number of all cancer cases reported was 310, with age-standardised incidence rates (ASIRs, world standard) of 98.2/100,000 and 74.3/100,000 for males and females, respectively. The most frequently reported cancer was OC, with mean annual ASIRs of 76.6/100,000 and 36.5/100,000 for males and females, respectively, with a male/female ratio of 2:1. CONCLUSION: The present data confirm previous reports that OC rates in Centane have consistently remained very high, whereas time-dependent changes in the incidence of OC have occurred in Butterworth, Bizana and Lusikisiki suggesting changes in the risk determinants in these districts.

Two new species of Fusarium section Liseola associated with mango malformation.

Mango malformation is an economically important disease of Mangifera indica globally. A recent DNA-based study indicated that two distinct, phylogenetic lineages previously identified as Fusarium subglutinans are associated with this disease in South Africa. The objective of this study was to characterize Fusarium isolates associated with mango malformation, including the two different F. subglutinans groups, based on morphological characteristics. For this purpose we examined Fusarium strains isolated from diseased mango inflorescences from diverse geographical origins. We also used sexual compatibility tests to determine whether sexual reproduction among the strains was possible. The morphological characters considered were shape of the conidia, presence of mono- and/or polyphialides, origin of the conidiophores from the substrate, presence of chlamydospores and the presence of sterile coiled hyphae. Three unique Fusarium spp. were identified. In this paper, we provide formal descriptions for the two new taxa in the section Liseola that we have named F. mangiferae and F. sterilihyphosum. Fusarium mangiferae is conspecific with strains that were previously identified as F. subglutinans and reported to be the causal agent of malformation in mango growing areas throughout the world. Fusarium sterilihyphosum, on the other hand, has been isolated only from malformed mango tissue in South Africa.