Beyond morphogenesis and secondary metabolism: function of Velvet proteins and LaeA in fungal pathogenesis

Velvet proteins, as well as the epigenetic regulator LaeA, are conserved in numerous fungal species, where, in response to environmental cues, they control several crucial cellular processes, including sexual and asexual morphogenesis, secondary metabolism, response to oxidative stress, and virulence. During the last two decades, knowledge of their mechanism of action as well as understanding their functional roles, has greatly increased, particularly in Aspergillus species. Research efforts from multiple groups followed, leading to the characterization of other Velvet and LaeA homologs in species of other fungal genera, including important opportunistic plant and animal pathogens. This review focuses mainly on the current knowledge of the role of Velvet and LaeA function in fungal pathogenesis. Velvet proteins and LaeA are unique to fungi, and for this reason, additional knowledge of these critical regulatory proteins will be important in the development of targeted control strategies to decrease the detrimental impact of fungal pathogens capable of causing disease in plants and animals.

The complete mitogenome of Alternaria tenuissima (Kunze) Wiltshire 1933 (Pleosporaceae), a fungus causing apple leaf blotch disease

Alternaria tenuissima (Kunze) Wiltshire 1933 is a plant pathogenic fungus mainly causing leaf blotch disease. Here, we de novo assembled mitochondrial genome of A. tenuissima isolate AT-1224. The total mitogenome size is 57,475 bp with 29.00% G + C content. The genome contained 12 coding genes and 15 hypothetical proteins, 34 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA). There are 227 SSR repeats, range from 2 to 4 base pairs, most five repeats were AT (144), AAT (54), AG (33), AC (13) and AAG (5). The results also found 13 tandem repeats (>100 bp), the largest repeat were forward 2 times located from 13,405 to 20,024 bp and 25,549 to 32,168 bp. Phylogenetic analysis based on 17 species complete mitogenomes indicated that A. tenuissima mitogenome was closest to 2 species, A. solani and A. alternata, sister clade to 6 species, representing Curvularia clavate, Exserohilum rostratum, Exserohilum turcicum, Bipolaris cookie, Bipolaris oryzae and Bipolaris sorokiniana. Further analysis among common fungus in local apple orchards using mitochondrial protein-coding genes revealed A. tenuissima were closing to 2 Alternaria fungi and a fungus representing Phoma sp. These results provide a basic reference for identification and evolution studies of A. tenuissima on apple trees.

Biology, ecology, and epidemiology of Alternaria species affecting tomato: ground information for the development of a predictive model

Among pathogens that affect tomato, Alternaria spp. are important due to their implications in yield losses and the contamination of tomato products by mycotoxins. In this study, a systematic literature review was conducted to retrieve and analyze available data on the Alternaria-tomato pathosystem, with particular attention focused on the main biological processes included in the pathogen life cycle and mycotoxin production. We considered 110 papers (selected from initial 2,138 papers) on five Alternaria species that were historically related or recently identified to cause damage to tomato leafage and fruits. Published mathematical models related to Alternaria diseases in tomato were also screened based on their aim and development methods, highlighting the wide use of empirical approach. Retrieved information was also evaluated for applications in building a mechanistic, weather-driven model that incorporates the key steps of the pathogen life cycle. This systematic review highlights several knowledge gaps, including the effect of wetness on infection and environmental requirements for mycotoxin production, and suggests paths for further research especially for recently isolated species.

Review: Strategies and technologies in preventing regulated and emerging mycotoxin co-contamination in forage for safeguarding ruminant health

Ruminants are often considered less susceptible to mycotoxins than monogastrics, owing to rumen microflora converting mycotoxins to less toxic compounds or several compounds present in the rumen-reticulum compartment, being able to bind the mycotoxin "mother" molecule that make them unavailable for absorption process in the gastro-intestinal tract of host animals. However, if ruminants consume feed contaminated by mycotoxins for long periods, their growth, development, and fertility can be compromised. Among regulated mycotoxins, the most studied and known for their effects are aflatoxins (AFs) AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2, as well as the AFM1 for its high importance in dairy sector, deoxynivalenol (DON) and its metabolites 3/15 acetyl-DON and 3-glucoside DON, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, zearalenone, fumonisins, in particular that belong to the B class, and ochratoxin A. Furthermore, because of the emergence of multiple emerging mycotoxins that are detectable in feed utilised in ruminant diets, such as ensiled forage, there is now a growing focus on investigating these compounds by the scientific community to deepen their toxicity for animal health. Despite the enhancement of research, it is remarkable that there is a paucity of in vivo trials, as well as limited studies on nutrient digestibility and the impact of these molecules on rumen and intestinal functions or milk yield and quality. In this review, recent findings regarding the occurrence of regulated and emerging mycotoxins in forage and their possible adverse effects on dairy cattle are described, with special emphasis on animal performance and on rumen functionality.

Natural resorcylic lactones derived from alternariol

In this overview, naturally occurring resorcylic lactones biosynthetically derived from alternariol and almost exclusively produced by fungi, are discussed with view on their isolation, structure, biological activities, biosynthesis, and total syntheses. This class of compounds consists until now of 127 naturally occurring compounds, with very divers structural motifs. Although only a handful of these toxins (i.e., alternariol and its 9-O-methyl ether, altenusin, dehydroaltenusin, altertenuol, and altenuene) were frequently found and isolated as fungal contaminants in food and feed and have been investigated in significant detail, further metabolites, which were much more rarely found as natural products, similarly show interesting biological activities.

Etiology of Foliar Blight of Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja tenuiflora) in Mexico

Castilleja tenuiflora is a native perennial plant used in traditional Mexican medicine. In June 2022, leaf blight symptoms were observed in a wild population of C. tenuiflora plants. Disease incidence was 80% and disease intensity reached up to 5% of the leaf area. Currently, there are no reports of pathogens causing leaf blight in this plant; therefore, this work aimed to identify the fungi responsible for the disease. The fungi recovered from the diseased tissue were characterized by means of pathogenicity tests and cultural, morphological, and molecular characterization. The information obtained revealed that Alternaria alternata and Alternaria gossypina are the pathogens responsible for the disease. This is the first report implicating species of Alternaria in causing leaf blight of C. tenuiflora in Mexico, as well as the first report of Alternaria gossypina also in Mexico. These pathogens may threaten the in situ conservation of native C. tenuiflora populations and limit their in vitro propagation. Future research lines should focus on determining the effect of these pathogens on metabolite production.

First Report on Mycotoxin Contamination of Hops (Humulus lupulus L.)

The presence of mycotoxins and other toxic metabolites in hops (Humulus lupulus L.) was assessed for the first time. In total, 62 hop samples were sampled in craft breweries, and analyzed by a multi-toxin LS-MS/MS method. The study collected samples from craft breweries in all of the Croatian counties and statistically compared the results. Based on previous reports on Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp. contamination of hops, the study confirmed the contamination of hops with these toxins. Alternaria toxins, particularly tenuazonic acid, were found in all tested samples, while Fusarium toxins, including deoxynivalenol, were present in 98% of samples. However, no Aspergillus or Penicillium metabolites were detected, indicating proper storage conditions. In addition to the Alternaria and Fusarium toxins, abscisic acid, a drought stress indicator in hops, was also detected, as well as several unspecific metabolites. The findings suggest the need for monitoring, risk assessment, and potential regulation of Alternaria and Fusarium toxins in hops to ensure the safety of hop usage in the brewing and pharmaceutical industries. Also, four local wild varieties were tested, with similar results to the commercial varieties for toxin contamination, but the statistically significant regional differences in toxin occurrence highlight the importance and need for targeted monitoring.

Inhibitory Effect and Mechanism of Carvacrol against Black Mold Disease Agent Alternaria alternata in Goji Berries

Alternaria alternata, as a main decay fungus of goji berry, can produce mycotoxins such as alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), and tenuazonic acid (TeA). Carvacrol (CVR) has exhibited a broad-spectrum antifungal activity in vitro. We assumed that CVR can also be applied to control Alternaria rot on goji berries and mycotoxins produced by the pathogens. To investigate whether CVR impacts the accumulation of mycotoxins and cell membrane damage of A. alternata, the antifungal activity of CVR on the fungal growth and mycotoxin production was evaluated in this study. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CVR against A. alternata was 0.12 µL/mL. Meanwhile, the destruction of plasma membrane integrity, cytoplasmic leakage, intracellular oxidative damage, and inhibitory effect in vivo were also observed in A. alternata treated with CVR. Moreover, CVR significantly reduced the accumulation of AOH, AME, and TeA. Transcriptomic profiling was performed by means of comparative RNA-Seq analysis to research the gene expression level of A. alternata, which attested to significant changes in nitrogen metabolism, carbon utilization, fatty acid oxidation, and antioxidant enzymes in CVR-treated A. alternata. This study suggests a new understanding of the molecular mechanism of response to CVR treatment in A. alternata, indicating that CVR is a novel antifungal agent with the potential to be applied to various fungi.

Occurrence of Alternaria secondary metabolites in milling oats and its de-hulled fractions from harvest years 2017 to 2021

In this study, secondary metabolites produced by Alternaria were investigated for their presence in milling oats. For this purpose, pre-cleaned milling oat samples (n = 193), intended for human consumption, out of harvest years 2017 to 2021 originating from different northern European countries were analysed by LC-MS/MS. Alternariol and alternariol methyl ether were positively identified in 38% of the samples with mean values of 2.1 µg/kg and 1.2 µg/kg, respectively. The highest concentrations of 50.5 µg/kg alternariol and 24.2 µg/kg of alternariol methyl ether were detected in a Latvian sample. Tenuazonic acid was found in 45% of all samples, with a mean concentration of 28.9 µg/kg and a maximum concentration of 1430 µg/kg, also in a Latvian sample. Tentoxin was detected in 49% of all samples with a mean value of 1.7 µg/kg. The Alternaria metabolite most frequently detected in 96% of all samples was infectopyrone with a mean concentration of 593 µg/kg and a maximum value reaching up to 3990 µg/kg in a German sample. In addition, eight oat samples were selected to investigate to what extent the Alternaria metabolites are distributed between the oat hulls and the oat kernels. After de-hulling, approximately 23% of Alternaria metabolites were found in the remaining oat kernels. According to the results, alternariol, infectopyrone and altersetin were present in the kernels with the lowest proportion of 10%-20% on average, respectively. The values for tentoxin showed that about 60% of tentoxin was contained in the hulls, while almost 40% remained in the oat kernel. This suggests that potential health risks posed by Alternaria secondary metabolites and metabolites of other fungal genera in milling oats can be reduced by de-hulling.

Mechanisms of Alternaria pathogenesis in animals and plants

Alternaria species are cosmopolitan fungi darkly pigmented by melanin that infect numerous plant species causing economically important agricultural spoilage of various food crops. Alternaria spp. also infect animals, being described as entomopathogenic fungi but also infecting warm-blooded animals, including humans. Their clinical importance in human health, as infection agents, lay in the growing number of immunocompromised patients. Moreover, Alternaria spp. are considered some of the most abundant and potent sources of airborne sensitizer allergens causing allergic respiratory diseases, as severe asthma. Among the numerous strategies deployed by Alternaria spp. to attack their hosts, the production of toxins, carrying critical concerns to public health as food contaminant, and the production of hydrolytic enzymes such as proteases, can be highlighted. Alternaria proteases also trigger allergic symptoms in individuals with fungal sensitization, acting as allergens and facilitating antigen access to the host subepithelium. Here, we review the current knowledge about the mechanisms of Alternaria pathogenesis in plants and animals, the strategies used by Alternaria to cope with the host defenses, and the involvement Alternaria allergens and mechanisms of sensitization.

Cultivable mycoflora on bleached, decaying and healthy Posidonia oceanica leaves in a warm-edge Mediterranean location

Marine fungi are widely distributed in the ocean, playing an important role in the ecosystems, but only little information is available about their occurrence and activity. Seagrass bleaching is also a neglected phenomenon that seems to be linked to warm environments, even though the causes are still to be defined. In this study, the cultivable mycoflora associated to the leaf conditions (bleached, necrotic and live) and section (from the base to the tip) in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica was investigated in a Mediterranean warm-edge location (Cyprus). A total of 17 Ascomycota species/taxon were identified and results highlighted that mycoflora composition changed significantly in relation to both the leaf condition and section. A few known pathogens of terrestrial plants were detected only on bleached leaves, but it remains unknown whether they have any direct connections with P. oceanica bleaching phenomenon.

Between Habitats: Transfer of Phytopathogenic Fungi along Transition Zones from Kettle Hole Edges to Wheat Ears

Kettle holes are able to increase the soil and air humidity around them. Therefore, they create a perfect habitat for phytopathogenic fungi of the genera Fusarium and Alternaria to develop, sporulate, and immigrate into neighboring agricultural fields. In our study, we establish transects from the edges of different kettle holes and field edges up to 50 m into the fields to analyze the abundance and diversity of pathogenic fungi in these transition zones by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. However, in 2019 and 2020, low precipitation and higher temperatures compared to the long-time average were measured, which led to limited infections of weeds in the transition zones with Fusarium and Alternaria. Therefore, the hypothesized significantly higher infection of wheat plants next to the kettle holes by a strong spread of fungal spores was not detected. Infestation patterns of Fusarium and Alternaria fungi on weeds and wheat ears were spatially different. In total, 9 different Fusarium species were found in the transition zone. The species diversity at kettle holes differed from 0 to 6 species. The trend toward increased dryness in the northeast German agricultural landscape and its impact on the changing severity of fungal infections is discussed.

Fungicide-free management of Alternaria leaf blotch and fruit spot on apple indicates Alternaria spp. as secondary colonizer

The fungal genus Alternaria is a pan-global pathogen of > 100 crops, and is associated with the globally expanding Alternaria leaf blotch in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) which leads to severe leaf necrosis, premature defoliation, and large economic losses. Up to date, the epidemiology of many Alternaria species is still not resolved as they can be saprophytic, parasitic or shift between both lifestyles and are also classified as primary pathogen able to infect healthy tissue. We argue that Alternaria spp. does not act as primary pathogen, but only as a necrosis-dependent opportunist. We studied the infection biology of Alternaria spp. under controlled conditions and monitored disease prevalence in real orchards and validated our ideas by applying fungicide-free treatments in 3-years field experiments. Alternaria spp. isolates were not able to induce necroses in healthy tissue, but only when prior induced damages existed. Next, leaf-applied fertilizers, without fungicidal effect, reduced Alternaria-associated symptoms (- 72.7%, SE: ± 2.5%) with the same efficacy as fungicides. Finally, low leaf magnesium, sulphur, and manganese concentrations were consistently linked with Alternaria-associated leaf blotch. Fruit spot incidence correlated positively with leaf blotch, was also reduced by fertilizer treatments, and did not expand during storage unlike other fungus-mediated diseases. Our findings suggest that Alternaria spp. may be a consequence of leaf blotch rather than its primary cause, as it appears to colonize the physiologically induced leaf blotch. Taking into account existing observations that Alternaria infection is connected to weakened hosts, the distinction may appear slight, but is of great significance, as we can now (a) explain the mechanism of how different stresses result in colonization with Alternaria spp. and (b) substitute fungicides for a basic leaf fertilizer. Therefore, our findings can result in significant decreases in environmental costs due to reduced fungicide use, especially if the same mechanism applies to other crops.

Metabolite Analysis of Alternaria Mycotoxins by LC-MS/MS and Multiple Tools

Alternaria fungi are widely distributed plant pathogens that invade crop products, causing significant economic damage. In addition, toxic secondary metabolites produced by the fungi can also endanger consumers. Many of these secondary metabolites are chemically characterized as mycotoxins. In this study, Q Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used for the non-targeted analysis of the metabolome of seven Alternaria isolates cultured on Potato Carrot Agar (PCA), Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Potato Sucrose Agar (PSA) medium. Due to the difficulty of detecting modified toxins, an analytical strategy with multiple visual analysis tools was also used to determine the presence of sulfate conjugated toxins, as well as to visualize the molecular network of Alternaria toxins. The results show that PSA medium exhibits more advantageous properties for the culture of Alternaria, with more toxigenic species and quantities and more obvious metabolic pathways. Based on high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data, the mycotoxins and their metabolites were mainly clustered into four groups: alternariol (AOH)/alternariol monomethyl ether (AME)/altenusin (ALU)/altenuene (ALT)/dehydroaltenusin (DHA)/Desmethyldehydroaltenusin (DMDA) families, Altertoxin-I (ATX-I) family, tentoxin (TEN) family and tenuazonic acid (TeA) family. Moreover, the PSA medium is more suitable for the accumulation of AOH, AME, ALU, ALT, DHA and DMDA, while the PDA medium is more suitable for the accumulation of ATX-I, TEN and TeA. This research may provide theoretical support for the metabolomics study of Alternaria.

Root uptake and metabolization of Alternaria toxins by winter wheat plants using a hydroponic system

Fungi of the genus Alternaria are ubiquitous in the environment. Their mycotoxins can leach out of contaminated plants or crop debris into the soil entering the plant via the roots. We aim to evaluate the importance of this entry pathway and its contribution to the overall content of Alternaria toxins (ATs) in wheat plants to better understand the soil-plant-phytopathogen system. A hydroponic cultivation system was established and wheat plants were cultivated for up to two weeks under optimal climate conditions. One half of the plants was treated with a nutrient solution spiked with alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), and tenuazonic acid (TeA), whereas the other half of the plants was cultivated without mycotoxins. Plants were harvested after 1 and 2 weeks and analyzed using a QuEChERS-based extraction and an in-house validated LC-MS/MS method for quantification of the ATs in roots, crowns, and leaves separately. ATs were taken up by the roots and transported throughout the plant up to the leaves after 1 as well as 2 weeks of cultivation with the roots showing the highest ATs levels followed by the crowns and the leaves. In addition, numerous AOH and AME conjugates like glucosides, malonyl glucosides, sulfates, and di/trihexosides were detected in different plant compartments and identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry. This is the first study demonstrating the uptake of ATs in vivo using a hydroponic system and whole wheat plants examining both the distribution of ATs within the plant compartments and the modification of ATs by the wheat plants.

Stress Response to Climate Change and Postharvest Handling in Two Differently Pigmented Lettuce Genotypes: Impact on Alternaria alternata Invasion and Mycotoxin Production

Many species of Alternaria are important pathogens that cause plant diseases and postharvest rots. They lead to significant economic losses in agriculture and affect human and animal health due to their capacity to produce mycotoxins. Therefore, it is necessary to study the factors that can result in an increase in A. alternata. In this study, we discuss the mechanism by which phenol content protects from A. alternata, since the red oak leaf cultivar (containing higher phenols) showed lower invasion than the green one, Batavia, and no mycotoxin production. A climate change scenario enhanced fungal growth in the most susceptible cultivar, green lettuce, likely because elevated temperature and CO₂ levels decrease plant N content, modifying the C/N ratio. Finally, while the abundance of the fungi was maintained at similar levels after keeping the lettuces for four days at 4 °C, this postharvest handling triggered TeA and TEN mycotoxin synthesis, but only in the green cultivar. Therefore, the results demonstrated that invasion and mycotoxin production are cultivar- and temperature-dependent. Further research should be directed to search for resistant cultivars and effective postharvest strategies to reduce the toxicological risk and economic losses related to this fungus, which are expected to increase in a climate change scenario.

Alternaria alternata Isolated from Infected Pears (Pyrus communis) in Italy Produces Non-Host Toxins and Hydrolytic Enzymes as Infection Mechanisms and Exhibits Competitive Exclusion against Botrytis cinerea in Co-Infected Host Fruits

Alternaria alternata is one of the most devastating phytopathogenic fungi. This microorganism causes black spots in many fruits and vegetables worldwide, generating significant post-harvest losses. In this study, an A. alternata strain, isolated from infected pears (Pyrus communis) harvested in Italy, was characterized by focusing on its pathogenicity mechanisms and competitive exclusion in the presence of another pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. In in vitro assays, the fungus produces strong enzymatic activities such as amylase, xylanase, and cellulase, potentially involved during the infection. Moreover, it secretes four different toxins purified and identified as altertoxin I, alteichin, alternariol, and alternariol 4-methyl ether. Only alteichin generated necrotic lesions on host-variety pears, while all the compounds showed moderate to slight necrotic activity on non-host pears and other non-host fruit (lemon, Citrus limon), indicating they are non-host toxins. Interestingly, A. alternata has shown competitive exclusion to the competitor fungus Botrytis cinerea when co-inoculated in host and non-host pear fruits, inhibiting its growth by 70 and 65%, respectively, a result not observed in a preliminary characterization in a dual culture assay. Alteichin and alternariol 4-methyl ether tested against B. cinerea had the best inhibition activity, suggesting that the synergism of these toxins and enzymatic activities of A. alternata are probably involved in the competitive exclusion dynamics in host and non-host pear fruits.

Status of Phytotoxins Isolated from Necrotrophic Fungi Causing Diseases on Grain Legumes

Fungal phytotoxins can be defined as secondary metabolites toxic to host plants and are believed to be involved in the symptoms developed of a number of plant diseases by targeting host cellular machineries or interfering with host immune responses. As any crop, legumes can be affected by a number of fungal diseases, causing severe yield losses worldwide. In this review, we report and discuss the isolation, chemical, and biological characterization of fungal phytotoxins produced by the most important necrotrophic fungi involved in legume diseases. Their possible role in plant-pathogen interaction and structure-toxicity relationship studies have also been reported and discussed. Moreover, multidisciplinary studies on other prominent biological activity conducted on reviewed phytotoxins are described. Finally, we explore the challenges in the identification of new fungal metabolites and their possible applications in future experiments.

Temperature-dependent mycotoxins production investigation in Alternaria infected cherry by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry

For temperature-dependent Alternaria mycotoxins production analysis, cherry samples were inoculated with Alternaria sp. and incubated at two different temperatures (4 °C and 25 °C). Six Alternaria mycotoxins, including altenuene (ALT), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), alternariol (AOH), altertoxin-I (ATX-I), tenuazonic acid (TeA), and tentoxin (TEN), in cherries were detected with integrated visible data-processing tools. Maximum concentration of these mycotoxins reached 71,862.2 μg/kg at 25 °C. Notably, considerable amount of TeA (290.4 μg/kg) was detected at 4 °C, which indicated that low temperature is not a safe storage condition for fruits. A total of 102 compounds were detected with a neutral loss of 162.0528 Da, and TeA-glucose was identified in this work. Based on MS/MS cosine similarity, products were verified and annotated with feature based molecular networking (FBMN) in global natural products social networking (GNPS). The results showed Alternaria mycotoxins in cherry samples were mainly demethylation, hydrogenation, and dehydration. This work revealed the production of Alternaria mycotoxins in cherries under different storage temperature, which will provide theoretical basis for the control of mycotoxin contamination in food commodities.

Simultaneous Determination of Alternaria Toxins, Ergot Alkaloid Epimers, and Other Major Mycotoxins in Various Food Matrixes by LC-MS/MS

BACKGROUND

Various food commodities are vulnerable to different types of fungal pathogens and could be contaminated with differential classes of mycotoxins as a result. It is ideal to implement a generic method for the simultaneous determination of multi-mycotoxins in different food matrixes or agricultural products.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, a simplified sample preparation procedure and a reliable LC-MS/MS analytical method were developed for the comprehensive measurement of 37 regulated and emerging mycotoxins including five Alternaria toxins (ATs) and six major ergot alkaloids (EAs) and their corresponding epimers. Four different food commodities (baby wheat cereal, peanut, tomato puree, and blended flour) were chosen for method validation to demonstrate the applicability of this analytical method across a wide range of food types.

METHODS

Sample extraction was performed using a formic acid-acidified acetonitrile-water (4 + 1, v/v) solution followed by extract dry-down and reconstitution in a water-methanol (1 + 1, v/v) solution for analysis on a biphenyl LC column. Chromatographic analysis was performed using regular acidic LC conditions for baseline separation of ergot alkaloid epimers and completed with a short 11 min cycle time.

RESULTS

Accurate quantification was achieved using matrix-matched calibration standards in the range of 0.4 to 400 µg/kg. The recoveries of all mycotoxins (except citrinin) in fortified samples were from 70 to 120%, and the RSD was less than 20%.

CONCLUSION

The established workflow was simple and fast for multi-mycotoxin determination in a wide variety of food commodities with LOQs needed to meet the regulatory levels.

HIGHLIGHTS

The developed method provided the unique benefit of simultaneous analysis of Alternaria toxins (ATs) and ergot alkaloids (EAs) together with other major regulated mycotoxins.

Simultaneous Rapid Determination of Seven Alternaria Toxins in Tuberous Crops during Storage Using QuEChERS Coupled with Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Robust and sensitive ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) combined with the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method was applied for the detection of seven Alternaria toxins (ATs) in tuberous crops. The influence of tuber conditions (fresh, germinated, and moldy) during storage on the concentration of the seven ATs is also investigated. ATs were extracted with acetonitrile under acidic conditions and purified with a C₁₈ adsorbent. ATs were scanned with electrospray ionization (positive/negative ion) dynamic switching and detected in MRM mode. Calibration curve analysis results reveal good linear relationships in all toxin concentration ranges (R² > 0.99). The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.25-0.70 and 0.83-2.31 μg/kg, respectively. The average recoveries of the seven ATs were 83.2-104% with intra-/inter-day precision at 3.52-6.55% and 4.02-7.26%, respectively. The developed method provided adequate selectivity, sensitivity, and precision in detecting the seven ATs at trace levels, and dispensed with standard addition or matrix-matched calibration to compensate for matrix effects. ATs in the fresh, germinated, and moldy samples of tuberous crops in storage (taro, potato, sweet potato, yam, cassava) were analyzed with this method, and the concentrations were 2.01-14.51 μg/kg and significantly increased with storage duration. ALS was detected in most samples, whereas no quantities of ALT and ATX-I were detected. AME was often detected in combination with AOH in sweet potatoes. TeA and Ten were mostly detected in taro, potato, and yam. The established method could be used for the simultaneous detection and quantification of multicomponent toxins in elaborate matrices.

Automatic real-time monitoring of fungal spores: the case of Alternaria spp

We present the first implementation of the monitoring of airborne fungal spores in real-time using digital holography. To obtain observations of Alternaria spp. spores representative of their airborne stage, we collected events measured in the air during crop harvesting in a contaminated potato field, using a Swisens Poleno device. The classification algorithm used by MeteoSwiss for operational pollen monitoring was extended by training the system using this additional dataset. The quality of the retrieved concentrations is evaluated by comparison with parallel measurements made with a manual Hirst-type trap. Correlations between the two measurements are high, especially over the main dispersion period of Alternaria spp., demonstrating the potential for automatic real-time monitoring of fungal spores.

Effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens XJ-BV2007 on Growth of Alternaria alternata and Production of Tenuazonic Acid

Large amounts of processing tomato are grown in Xinjiang, China. Tomato black spot disease, caused by Alternaria spp., and the produced alternaria toxins in tomato products are posing risks to human health. In this study, we isolated a rhizospheric bacterium, XJ-BV2007, from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fields, which we identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. We found that this bacterium has a strong antagonistic effect against Alternaria alternata and reduces the accumulation of alternaria toxins in tomatoes. According to the antifungal activity of the bacteria-free filtrate, we revealed that B. amyloliquefaciens XJ-BV2007 suppresses A. alternata by the production of antifungal metabolites. Combining semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography, we employed UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis and the Oxford cup experiment to find that fengycin plays an important role in inhibiting A. alternata. This paper firstly reported that B. amyloliquefaciens efficiently controls tomato black spot disease and mycotoxins caused by A. alternata. B. amyloliquefaciens XJ-BV2007 may provide an alternative biocontrol strain for the prevention of tomato black spot disease.

Alternaria alternata, the Causal Agent of a New Needle Blight Disease on Pinus bungeana

Pinus bungeana, an endangered and native coniferous tree species in China, has considerable timber and horticulture value. However, little is known about needle diseases in P. bungeana. A needle blight of P. bungeana has been observed in Hebei Province, China. P. bungeana inoculated with mycelial plugs of fungal isolates presented symptoms similar to those observed under field conditions. Ten virulent fungal isolates were identified as a small-spored Alternaria species based on morphological observations. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses carried out with multilocus sequence typing of eight regions (SSU, LSU, ITS, gapdh, tef1, Alt a 1, endoPG, OPA10-2) assigned the pathogen to Alternaria alternata. This is the first report of A. alternata causing needle blight on P. bungeana in China.

Degradation of Alternaria mycotoxins by UV-C irradiation: Effect of selected process and exposure to food components

Alternariol (AOH) and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) are two Alternaria mycotoxins with high occurrence rates in food systems. This study aimed to investigate the photodegradation of AOH and AME by ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation. The effect of UV-C intensity, pH, treatment time, solvents and the exposure of food components were evaluated. After treated by UV-C irradiation at 3500 μW/cm² for 90 min, AOH samples in methanol, aqueous solution and solid state were degraded by 89.1%, 72.9% and 53.2%, respectively, while the degradation percentages of AME were 86.6%, 50.1% and 11.1%, respectively. Increasing irradiation intensity and prolonging irradiation time could significantly facilitate the degradation of AOH and AME. An alkaline environment (pH = 11) was more conducive to the degradation of toxins. In addition, 2.5 mg mL^-1 citric acid or malic acid increased the photodegradation of AOH and AME to 94.6% and 95.3%, 93.2% and 70.5%, respectively. However, protein, polyphenols and vitamin C exerted inhibitory effects on the degradation, while 10% glucose or sucrose reduced the photodegradation of AOH and AME to 65.9% and 40.3%. UV-C treatment could effectively reduce the content of AOH and AME, with the highest efficiency achieved in methanol and alkaline environment. By contrast, UV-C irradiation is more effective in degrading toxins in some liquid foods rich in organic acids but lacking in protein. The utilization of UV-C radiation appears to be a potentially useful approach for decreasing the underlying risk of Alternaria mycotoxin contamination in foods.

Comprehensive review on patulin and Alternaria toxins in fruit and derived products

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain fungi, which can contaminate various food commodities, including fruits and their derived products. Patulin and Alternaria toxins are among the most commonly encountered mycotoxins in fruit and their derived products. In this review, the sources, toxicity, and regulations related to these mycotoxins, as well as their detection and mitigation strategies are widely discussed. Patulin is a mycotoxin produced mainly by the fungal genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Byssochlamys. Alternaria toxins, produced by fungi in the Alternaria genus, are another common group of mycotoxins found in fruits and fruit products. The most prevalent Alternaria toxins are alternariol (AOH) and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME). These mycotoxins are of concern due to their potential negative effects on human health. Ingesting fruits contaminated with these mycotoxins can cause acute and chronic health problems. Detection of patulin and Alternaria toxins in fruit and their derived products can be challenging due to their low concentrations and the complexity of the food matrices. Common analytical methods, good agricultural practices, and contamination monitoring of these mycotoxins are important for safe consumption of fruits and derived products. And Future research will continue to explore new methods for detecting and managing these mycotoxins, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the safety and quality of fruits and derived product supply.

Natural Cross-Kingdom Spread of Apple Scar Skin Viroid from Apple Trees to Fungi

Viroids are the smallest known infectious agents that are thought to only infect plants. Here, we reveal that several species of plant pathogenic fungi that were isolated from apple trees infected with apple scar skin viroid (ASSVd) carried ASSVd naturally. This finding indicates the spread of viroids to fungi under natural conditions and further suggests the possible existence of mycoviroids in nature. A total of 117 fungal isolates were isolated from ASSVd-infected apple trees, with the majority (85.5%) being an ascomycete Alternaria alternata and the remaining isolates being other plant-pathogenic or -endophytic fungi. Out of the examined samples, viroids were detected in 81 isolates (69.2%) including A. alternata as well as other fungal species. The phenotypic comparison of ASSVd-free specimens developed by single-spore isolation and ASSVd-infected fungal isogenic lines showed that ASSVd affected the growth and pathogenicity of certain fungal species. ASSVd confers hypovirulence on ascomycete Epicoccum nigrum. The mycobiome analysis of apple tree-associated fungi showed that ASSVd infection did not generally affect the diversity and structure of fungal communities but specifically increased the abundance of Alternaria species. Taken together, these data reveal the occurrence of the natural spread of viroids to plants; additionally, as an integral component of the ecosystem, viroids may affect the abundance of certain fungal species in plants. Moreover, this study provides further evidence that viroid infection could induce symptoms in certain filamentous fungi.

Phylogeny and mycotoxin profiles of pathogenic Alternaria and Curvularia species isolated from date palm in southern Tunisia

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), is a widely cultivated crop across North Africa, with about 300 thousand tons of fruits produced per year, in Tunisia. A wide range of fungal pathogens has been associated with leaf spots of date palm, Alternaria species being the most frequently reported. Symptomatic leaves of Deglet Nour variety were randomly collected in six localities in Tunisia. We used a polyphasic approach to identify 45 Alternaria and five Curvularia strains isolated from date palm, confirming their pathogenicity. Sequencing of allergen Alt-a1, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) and calmodulin genes allowed us to group 35 strains in Alternaria Section, and 10 strains in Ulocladioides section. Based on sequencing analyses of Internal Transcribed Spacer, gpd and elongation factor genomic regions, all Curvularia strains were identified as Curvularia spicifera. All Alternaria and Curvularia species tested on date palm plantlets proved to be pathogenic, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Although no significant differences were observed among the species, the highest mean disease severity index was observed in A. arborescens, while the lowest corresponded to C. spicifera. The capability of these strains to produce mycotoxins in vitro was evaluated. None of the A. consortialis strains produced any known Alternaria mycotoxin, whereas more than 80% of the strains included in Alternaria section Alternaria produced variable amounts of multiple mycotoxins such as alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, altenuene, tenuazonic acid and tentoxin. Curvularia spicifera strains produced detectable traces of fumonisins B. This work reports a first comprehensive multidisciplinary study of mycotoxigenic Alternaria species and C. spicifera associated with leaf spot disease on date palm.

Effect of Different Types of Continuous Cropping on Microbial Communities and Physicochemical Properties of Black Soils

The barriers caused by continuous tillage have had a negative impact on the crop and soil environment. Black soils are economically important as a valuable natural resource in Northeast China, but limited soil resources have led to continuous planting of major food crops and medicinal plants. At present, the extent to which two different types of plants—grains and medicinal plants that are successively grown on the same soil—have an impact on soil quality and microbiology is not known. In this study, we investigated the effects of different types of long-term continuous cropping on soil and soil microbial communities by determining the physicochemical properties, the soil community composition and function of grain crops and medicinal-plant soils with more than five years of continuous cropping, as well as fallow soils. The results showed that long-term continuous cropping reduced the pH of different types of soils, but there was no significant difference in the content of AK. The relative abundance of beneficial dominant phyla, such as Actinomycetes, Acidobacteria, and Green Campylobacter decreased and the relative abundance of pathogenic genera such as Alternaria and Didymellaceae, increased after the long-term continuous cropping of DM (grain crops) and DG (medicinal plants). Specifically, continuous cropping increased the relative abundance of fungi with pathogenic potential, such as Sordariomycetes, Dothideomycetes, Saccharomycetes, and Mucoromycetes in grain soils and Agaricostilbomycetes in herb soils. Among the soil physicochemical properties, NH4+-N and pH were the most important factors contributing to changes in the composition of bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Continuous cropping of different types of plants altered the diversity of the microbial communities, with the most significant effect from the continuous cropping of food crops. Our findings provide a scientific and theoretical basis for future agricultural research to improve soil microbial activity, mitigate continuous-cropping barriers, and increase productivity.

Phylogenetic Analysis and Toxigenic Profile of Alternaria Species Isolated from Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) in Argentina

Chickpeas are a very important legume due to their nutritional richness and high protein content and they are used as food for humans and as fodder for livestock. However, they are susceptible to fungal infections and mycotoxin contamination. The Alternaria genus was among the main fungi isolated from chickpea samples in Argentina. The species within this genus are able to produce several mycotoxins such as alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), and tenuazonic acid (TA). So, the objectives of this study were to identify the Alternaria spp. found in the chickpea samples and to determine their toxigenic potential in vitro. A phylogenetic analysis of 32 Alternaria strains was carried out based on the combined sequences of the tef1, gpd, and Alt a1 genes. All Alternaria strains clustered into the section Alternaria and were identified as A. alternata and A. arborescens. Further, the toxigenic profile of each strain was determined in a ground rice–corn steep liquor medium and analysed by HPLC. Most strains were able to co-produce AOH, AME, and TA. These results indicate a potential risk for human health when consuming chickpeas since this legume could be contaminated with Alternaria and its mycotoxins, which are not yet regulated in food.

Biocontrol of early blight disease of eggplant using endophytic Aspergillus terreus: improving plant immunological, physiological and antifungal activities

BACKGROUND

The eggplant suffers from many biotic stresses that cause severe damage to crop production. One of the most destructive eggplant pathogens is Alternaria solani, which causes early blight disease. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the role of fungal endophytes in protecting eggplant against early blight as well as in improving its growth performance.

RESULTS

Endophytic Aspergillus terreus was isolated from Ocimum basilicum leaves and identified morphologically and genetically. In vitro, crude extract of endophytic A. terreus exhibited promising antifungal activity against A. solani where minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 1.25 mg/ml. Severity of the disease and rate of protection from the disease were recorded. Vegetative growth indices, physiological resistance signs (photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrates, proteins, phenols, proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant enzymes), and isozymes were estimated. Alternaria solani caused a highly disease severity (87.5%) and a noticeable decreasing in growth characteristics and photosynthetic pigments except for carotenoids. Also, infection with A. solani caused significant decreases in the contents of carbohydrate and protein by 29.94% and 10.52%, respectively. Infection with A. solani caused enhancement in phenolics (77.21%), free proline (30.56%), malondialdehyde (30.26%), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (125.47%), catalase (CAT) (125.93%), peroxidase (POD) (25.07%) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) (125.37%) compared to healthy plants. In contrast, the use of A. terreus on infected plants succeeded in recovering eggplants from the disease, as the disease severity was recorded (caused protection by 66.67%). Application of A. terreus either on healthy or infected eggplants showed several responses in number and density of peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) isozymes.

CONCLUSION

It is necessary for us to address the remarkable improvement in the photosynthetic pigments, protein, carbohydrates, and enzymatic activity compared to infected control, which opens the way for more studies on the use of biocides as safe alternatives against fungal diseases.

Zinc nanoparticles: Mode of action and efficacy against boscalid-resistant Alternaria alternata isolates

The antifungal potential of ZnO-NPs against Alternaria alternata isolates with reduced sensitivity to the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) boscalid, resulting from target site modifications, was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. ZnO-NPs could effectively inhibit mycelial growth in a dose-dependent way in both boscalid (BOSC) sensitive (BOSC-S) and resistant (BOSC-R) isolates. The fungitoxic effect of ZnO-NPs against the pathogen was significantly enhanced when combined with boscalid compared to the individual treatments in all phenotype cases (BOSC-S/R) both in vitro and in vivo. Fungitoxic effect of ZnO-NPs could be, at least partly, attributed to zinc ion release as indicated by the positive correlation between sensitivities to the nanoparticles and their ionic counterpart ZnSO₄ and the alleviation of the ZnO-NPs fungitoxic action in the presence of the strong chelating agent EDTA. The superior effectiveness of ZnO-NPs against A. alternata, compared to ZnSO_4, could be due to nanoparticle properties interfering with cellular ion homeostasis mechanisms. The observed additive action of the oxidative phosphorylation-uncoupler fluazinam (FM) against all phenotypes indicates a possible role of ATP-dependent ion efflux mechanism in the mode of action of ZnO-NPs. A potential role of ROS production in the fungitoxic action of ZnO-NPs was evident by the additive/synergistic action of salicylhydroxamate (SHAM), which blocks the alternative oxidase antioxidant action. Mixture of ZnO-NPs and boscalid, resulting in a "capping" effect for the nanoparticles and significantly reducing their mean size, probably accounted for the synergistic effect of the mixture against both sensitive and resistant A. alternata isolates. Summarizing, results indicated that ZnO-NPs can be effectively used against A. alternata both alone or in combination with boscalid, providing an effective tool for combating SDHI-resistance and reducing the environmental fingerprint of synthetic fungicides.

Characteristics of Soil Fungal Communities in Soybean Rotations

Soybean continuous cropping (SC) leads to continuous cropping obstacles, and soil-borne fungal diseases occur frequently. Rotation can alleviate continuous cropping obstacles. However, the long-term effects of continuous cropping and rotation on the structure and function of the fungal community in soil are not clear. In this study, five cropping systems, SC, fallow (CK), fallow-soybean (FS), corn-soybean (CS), and wheat-soybean (WS), were implemented in the long-term continuous cropping area of soybean. After 13 years of planting, high-throughput sequencing was used to evaluate the structure and diversity of soil fungal communities and to study the relationship between fungal communities and soil environmental factors. The results showed that the abundance and diversity of fungal flora in SC soil were the highest. There were significant differences in the formation of soil fungal communities between soybean continuous cropping and the other treatments. There were 355 species of endemic fungi in SC soil. There were 231 and 120 endemic species in WS and CS, respectively. The relative abundance of the potential pathogens Lectera, Gibberella, and Fusarium in the SC treatment soil was significantly high, and the abundance of all potential pathogens in CK was significantly the lowest. The abundance of Lectera and Fusarium in CS was significantly the lowest. There was a positive correlation between potential pathogens in the soil. The relative abundance of potential pathogens in the soil was significantly positively correlated with the relative abundance of Ascomycetes and negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Basidiomycetes. Potential pathogenic genera had a significant negative correlation with soil OM, available Mn, K and soil pH and a significant positive correlation with the contents of soil available Cu, Fe, and Zn. In general, the fungal communities of SC, FS, WS, and CS were divided into one group, which was significantly different from CK. WS and CS were more similar in fungal community structure. The CK and CS treatments reduced the relative abundance of soil fungi and potential pathogens. Our study shows that SC and FS lead to selective stress on fungi and pathogenic fungi and lead to the development of fungal community abundance and diversity, while CK and CS can reduce this development, which is conducive to plant health.

Decontamination and Germination of Buckwheat Grains upon Treatment with Oxygen Plasma Glow and Afterglow

Buckwheat is an alternative crop known for its many beneficial effects on our health. Fungi are an important cause of plant diseases and food spoilage, often posing a threat to humans and animals. This study reports the effects of low-pressure cold plasma treatment on decontamination and germination of common (CB) and Tartary buckwheat (TB) grains. Both plasma glow and afterglow were applied. The glow treatment was more effective in decontamination: initial contamination was reduced to less than 30% in CB and 10% in TB. Fungal diversity was also affected as only a few genera persisted after the glow treatment; however, it also significantly reduced or even ceased the germination capacity of both buckwheat species. Detailed plasma characterisation by optical spectroscopy revealed extensive etching of outer layers as well as cotyledons. Afterglow treatment resulted in a lower reduction of initial fungal contamination (up to 30% in CB and up to 50% in TB) and had less impact on fungal diversity but did not drastically affect germination: 60–75% of grains still germinated even after few minutes of treatment. The vacuum conditions alone did not affect the fungal population or the germination despite an extensive release of water.

Distinction of Alternaria Sect. Pseudoalternaria Strains among Other Alternaria Fungi from Cereals

Species of the genus Alternaria are ubiquitous and frequently isolated from various plants, including crops. There are two phylogenetically and morphologically close Alternaria sections: the relatively well-known Infectoriae and the rarely mentioned Pseudoalternaria. Currently, the latter includes at least seven species that are less studied and sometimes misidentified. To perform precise identification, two primers (APsF and APsR) were designed and a sect. Pseudoalternaria-specific PCR method was developed. Thirty-five Russian A. infectoria-like strains were then examined. Five strains were found to be the members of the sect. Pseudoalternaria. Additionally, specificity of the previously developed primer set (Ain3F and Ain4R) was checked. It was found to be highly specific for sect. Infectoriae and did not amplify sect. Pseudoalternaria DNA. Identification of strains of the sect. Pseudoalternaria was supported and refined by phylogenetic reconstruction based on analysis of two loci, the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (gpd), and the plasma membrane ATPase gene (ATP). These fungi belonged to Alternaria kordkuyana and A. rosae, which were the first detection of those taxa for the Eastern Europe. Alternaria kordkuyana was isolated from cereal seeds and eleuthero leaves. Alternaria rosae was obtained from oat seed. All strains of sect. Pseudoalternaria were not able to produce alternariol mycotoxin, as well as the majority of A. sect. Infectoriae strains.

Development of analytical methods to study the effect of malting on levels of free and modified forms of Alternaria mycotoxins in barley

A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) multi-mycotoxin method was developed for the analysis of the Alternaria toxins alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tentoxin (TEN), altertoxin I (ATX I), altertoxin II (ATX II), alterperylenol (ALTP), and altenuene (ALT), as well as the modified toxins AOH-3-glucoside (AOH-3-G), AOH-9-glucoside (AOH-9-G), AME-3-glucoside (AME-3-G), AOH-3-sulfate (AOH-3-S), and AME-3-sulfate (AME-3-S) in barley and malt. The toxin tenuazonic acid (TeA) was analyzed separately as it could not be included into the multi-mycotoxin method. Quantitation was conducted by using a combination of stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA) for AOH, AME, and TeA, and matrix-matched calibration for all other toxins. Limits of detection were between 0.05 µg/kg (AME) and 2.45 µg/kg (ALT), whereas limits of quantitation ranged from 0.16 µg/kg (AME) to 8.75 µg/kg (ALT). Recoveries between 96 and 107% were obtained for the analytes when SIDA was applied, while recoveries between 84 and 112% were found for analytes quantified by matrix-matched calibration. The method was applied for the analysis of 50 barley samples and their respective malts from the harvest years 2016–2020 for their mycotoxin content, showing the overall potential of toxin formation during the malting process. The toxins ALTP and ATX I were mainly found in the malt samples, but not in barley.

Roles of AaVeA on Mycotoxin Production via Light in Alternaria alternata

Alternaria alternata is a principal plant pathogen responsible for the biosynthesis of mycotoxins, including tenuazonic acid (TeA), alternariol (AOH), and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME). The velvet gene VeA is involved in fungal growth, development, and secondary metabolism, including mycotoxin biosynthesis via light regulation. In this study, the detailed regulatory roles of AaVeA in A. alternata with various light sources were investigated from the comparative analyses between the wild type and the gene knockout strains. In fungal growth and conidiation, mycelial extension was independent of light regulation in A. alternata. Red light favored conidiation, but blue light repressed it. The absence of AaVeA caused the marked reduction of hyphae extension and conidiophore formation even though red light could not induce more spores in ΔAaVeA mutant. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in hyphal growth and conidiation were drastically transcribed from the comparatively transcriptomic profile between the wild type and ΔAaVeA mutant strains with or without light. In mycotoxin production, TeA biosynthesis seems no obvious effect by light regulation, but AOH and AME formation was significantly stimulated by blue light. Nevertheless, the disruption of AaVeA resulted in a marked decrease in mycotoxin production and the action of the stimulation was lost via blue light for the abundant accumulation of AOH and AME in the ΔAaVeA strain. From DEG expression and further verification by RT-qPCR, the loss of AaVeA caused the discontinuous supply of the substrates for mycotoxin biosynthesis and the drastic decline of biosynthetic gene expression. In addition, pathogenicity depends on AaVeA regulation in tomato infected by A. alternata in vivo. These findings provide a distinct understanding of the roles of AaVeA in fungal growth, development, mycotoxin biosynthesis, and pathogenicity in response to various light sources.

[Determination of seven Alternaria toxins in infant milk powder by solid phase extraction coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry]

Alternaria toxin is a general term for a class of toxic metabolites produced by Alternaria, which widely exists in soil, grain, vegetables, and fruits. This mycotoxin is extremely harmful to human health. It is well known that infant milk powder containing vegetable oil is easily contaminated by Alternaria alternata. Alternaria toxins have thus become an increasingly important focus in food. Rapid and accurate detection of Alternaria toxin residues in food is of great significance for food safety. This requires pretreatment to purify the target toxins and maximize the accuracy and precision of the analysis. In this study, a rapid method based on online solid phase extraction/purification and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (online SPE UPLC MS/MS) was established to detect seven Alternaria toxins (alternariol monomethyl ether, altenuene, tenuazonic acid, alternariol, tentoxin, altenusin, and altertoxin Ⅰ) in infant milk powder. First, the mass spectrometry and chromatographic conditions were optimized. A BEH-C18 column (50 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) was selected, with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution-acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Then, the extraction conditions (extraction agent ratio and extraction method) and the solid phase extraction process (extraction column, type and volume of the eluent, and pH of the sample loading solution) were optimized. One gram of milk powder (accurate to 0.01 g) was weighed into a 50 mL tip and bottom plug centrifuge tube. Acetonitrile-water (84∶16, v/v) was set as the extraction agent for the first two cycles, and acetonitrile-methanol-water (45∶10∶45, v/v/v) was set as the third extraction agent. Horizontal shaking for 30 min was the best extraction method. The sample was centrifuged at 9500 r/min for 10 min, and the supernatant extracted many times was mixed and blown with nitrogen at 40 ℃. The sample was redissolved in first-order water (pH 5.5), purified on an HLB column, and successively activated with 6 mL methanol and 6 mL first-order water (pH 5.5). The solution was then loaded onto the column, and the SPE was adjusted to ensure that the water sample flowed through the column at the rate of 1 mL/min so that the column did not dry up during the analysis process before the end of sample loading. The column was rinsed with 12 mL of first-order water. After leaching, the negative pressure filtration was continued for approximately 5 min, followed by elution with 10 mL methanol, and the eluted solution was directly tested after passing through a 0.22 μm filter membrane, without concentration. The analytes were determined by electrospray ionization (ESI) with alternating positive and negative ions. Under the optimal analysis conditions, the linear relationships of the seven Alternaria toxins were good in the mass concentration range of 0.5-200 μg/L, with coefficients of determination (R2)>0.9903. The limits of detection and limits of quantification were 0.15-0.64 μg/kg and 0.54-2.24 μg/kg, respectively. The recoveries of the seven Alternaria toxins were 79.1%-114.3%, and the relative standard deviations were less than 8.87% at different concentrations. The method was applied to the determination and analysis of 60 samples of infant milk powder, and the results showed that no toxin was found in stage one or stage two of the milk powder. Only one sample of the stage three of milk powder was detected, which was tentoxin, and the content was 4.97 μg/kg. The developed method is accurate, rapid, simple, sensitive, repeatable, and stable. It can be used for the practical determination of seven Alternaria toxins in infant milk powder.

Occurrence of pathogenic fungi on commercially available medicinal plants and packaged seeds

Introduction

Pathogenic fungi decrease the quality of commercially available medicinal plants and packaged seeds. Some of fungal pathogens can produce mycotoxins harmful to human health.

Objective

To evaluate the health status of commercially available medicinal plants and check if packaged seeds of these plants are free from pathogenic fungi.

Methods

An experiment was conducted on potted plants of lemon balm, peppermint and sweet basil, commercially available and intended for direct use by consumers. For microbiological analyses, 100 stems and leaves of each species were randomly taken. Furthermore, the health of 100 seeds of each species was examined using agar plate method.

Results

Ten species and genera of pathogenic fungi were isolated from shoots, leaves and seeds of investigated plants. Some of them are toxin-forming species. Lemon balm was the most infected species.

Conclusion

Bearing in mind the health of consumers, more attention should be paid to the microbiological purity of commercially available medicinal plants and packaged seeds.

Alternaria spp. Associated with Leaf Blight of Maize in Heilongjiang Province, China

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major economic crop worldwide. Maize can be infected by Alternaria species causing leaf blight that can result in significant economic losses. In this study, 168 Alternaria isolates recovered from symptomatic maize leaves were identified based on morphological characteristics, pathogenicity, and multilocus sequence analyses of the genes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), the internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA (rDNA ITS), the RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), and histone3 (HIS3). Maize isolates grouped to four Alternaria species including Alternaria tenuissima, A. alternata, A. burnsii, and Alternaria sp. Notably, A. tenuissima (71.4%) was the most prevalent of the four isolated species, followed by A. alternata (21.5%), Alternaria sp. (4.1%), and A. burnsii (3.0%). Pathogenicity tests showed that all four Alternaria species could produce elliptic to nearly round, or strip, lesions on leaves of maize, gray-white to dry white in the lesion centers and reddish-brown at the edges. The average disease incidence (58.47%) and average disease index (63.55) of maize leaves inoculated with A. alternata were significantly higher than levels resulting from A. tenuissima (55.28% and 58.49), Alternaria sp. (55.34% and 58.75), and A. burnsii (56% and 55). Haplotype analyses indicated that there were 14 haplotypes of A. tenuissima and five haplotypes of A. alternata in Heilongjiang Province and suggested the occurrence of a population expansion. Results of the study showed that Alternaria species associated with maize leaf blight in Heilongjiang Province are more diverse than those that have been previously reported. This is the first report globally of A. tenuissima, A. burnsii, and an unclassified Alternaria species as causal agents of leaf blight on maize.

Soil Fungal Community Composition and Diversity of Culturable Endophytic Fungi from Plant Roots in the Reclaimed Area of the Eastern Coast of China

As an important resource for screening microbial strains capable of conferring stress tolerance in plants, the fungal community associated with the plants grown in stressful environments has received great attention. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was employed to study the rhizosphere fungal community in the reclaimed area (i.e., sites F, H, and T) of the eastern coast of China. Moreover, endophytic fungi from the root of six plant species colonizing the investigated sites were isolated and identified. The differences in soil physicochemical parameters, fungal diversity, and community structure were detected among the sampling sites and between the seasons. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi (e.g., genera Tuber and Geopora) were dominant at site F, which was characterized by high soil total carbon (SC) and total nitrogen (SN) contents and low soil electrical conductivity (EC) value. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, including genera Glomus, Rhizophagus, and Entrophospora were dominant at sites H (winter), H (summer), and T (summer), respectively. The positive relationship between the EC value and the abundance of genus Glomus indicated the ability of this AM fungus to protect plants against the salt stress. Endophytic fungi at sites F (Aspergillus and Tetracladium), H (Nigrospora), and T (Nigrospora, Coniochaeta and Zopfiella) were recognized as the biomarkers or keystone taxa, among which only genus Aspergillus was isolated from the plant roots. The aforementioned AM fungi and endophytic fungi could contribute to the promotion of plant growth in the newly reclaimed land.

The application of DNA-HRP functionalized AuNP probes in colorimetric detection of citrus-associated Alternaria genes

The monitoring of the fungal genus Alternaria, which causes destructive brown spot disease in citruses worldwide and produces highly toxic mycotoxins, is extremely important to protect citrus and human health. In this work, we describe an ultrasensitive colorimetric method for the detection of genomic DNA of Alternaria from citrus fruit samples, using a system consisting of five groups of reporter probes. Each reporter probe is prepared by coupling recognition DNA and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on the surface of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) through a convenient and low-cost freezing-assisted method. Meanwhile, the capture DNA is immobilized on magnetic bead (MB) via biotin-streptavidin reaction. Then, the capture DNA, target DNA, and five groups of AuNP-based reporter probes form a stable DNA-heptamer sandwich structure on the MB, and then HRP generates a blue signal for the subsequent colorimetric detection. It should be noted that AuNP with a large specific surface area drives abundant HRP anchoring, resulting in significant signal amplification. In addition, there are five groups of AuNP-based reporter probes, which further amplify the detection signal. As a result, the detection limit of the artificial target DNA is as low as 15.6 pM. Because the detection signal can be recorded visually without any special equipment, and its sensitivity is high, this method represents a suitable diagnostic tool for Alternaria genetic detection.

Scale-Dependent Effects of Growth Stage and Elevational Gradient on Rice Phyllosphere Bacterial and Fungal Microbial Patterns in the Terrace Field

The variation of phyllosphere bacterial and fungal communities along elevation gradients may provide a potential link with temperature, which corresponds to an elevation over short geographic distances. At the same time, the plant growth stage is also an important factor affecting phyllosphere microorganisms. Understanding microbiological diversity over changes in elevation and among plant growth stages is important for developing crop growth ecological theories. Thus, we investigated variations in the composition of the rice phyllosphere bacterial and fungal communities at five sites along an elevation gradient from 580 to 980 m above sea level (asl) in the Ziquejie Mountain at the seedling, heading, and mature stages, using high-throughput Illumina sequencing methods. The results revealed that the dominant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, and the dominant fungal phyla were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, which varied significantly at different elevation sites and growth stages. Elevation had a greater effect on the α diversity of phyllosphere bacteria than on that phyllosphere fungi. Meanwhile, the growth stage had a great effect on the α diversity of both phyllosphere bacteria and fungi. Our results also showed that the composition of bacterial and fungal communities varied significantly along elevation within the different growth stages, in terms of both changes in the relative abundance of species, and that the variations in bacterial and fungal composition were well correlated with variations in the average elevation. A total of 18 bacterial and 24 fungal genera were significantly correlated with elevational gradient, displaying large differences at the various growth stages. Soluble protein (SP) shared a strong positive correlation with bacterial and fungal communities (p < 0.05) and had a strong significant negative correlation with Serratia, Passalora, unclassified_Trichosphaeriales, and antioxidant enzymes (R > 0.5, p < 0.05), and significant positive correlation with the fungal genera Xylaria, Gibberella, and Penicillium (R > 0.5, p < 0.05). Therefore, it suggests that elevation and growth stage might alter both the diversity and abundance of phyllosphere bacterial and fungal populations.

(3ξ,4ξ,5ξ,6ξ,7ξ,11ξ)-3,6-Dihydroxy-8-oxo-9-eremophilene-12-oic Acid, a New Phytotoxin of Alternaria alternata ssp. tenuissima Isolates Associated with Fruit Spots on Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.)

Alternaria sp. infections on apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) lead to impaired fruit quality and yield losses by leaf blotches and fruit spots, caused by host-specific toxins (HSTs) of the Alternaria apple pathotype like AM-toxins. Fungal isolates were obtained during severe outbreaks on cv. Gala, Golden Delicious, and Cripps Pink^(cov)/Rosy Glow^(cov) in South Tyrol and other regions in northern Italy. The isolates were tested for pathogenicity using in vitro assays with detached apple leaves. Conidial suspensions of pathogenic isolates were shown to provoke necrotic lesions also in apple seedlings and on fruits. Detached-leaf assay-guided fractionation of the isolates' culture supernatant and a high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis tentatively identified 27 known Alternaria phytotoxins and a new putative toxin, (3ξ,4ξ,5ξ,6ξ,7ξ,11ξ)-3,6-dihydroxy-8-oxo-9-eremophilene-12-oic acid (1). The constitution and the relative configuration of the ring stereocenters of 1 were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy, revealing unique structural features among Alternaria phytotoxins. Indeed, molecular analysis revealed the lack of the toxin-related genes AMT1, AMT4, and AMT14 in all isolates from the region, suggesting that Alternaria apple blotch in the area was associated with another metabolite (1).