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Chen KH, Marcón F, Duringer J, Blount A, Mackowiak C, Liao HL. Leaf Mycobiome and Mycotoxin Profile of Warm-Season Grasses Structured by Plant Species, Geography, and Apparent Black-Stroma Fungal Structure. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0094222. [PMID: 36226941 PMCID: PMC9642016 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00942-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Grasses harbor diverse fungi, including some that produce mycotoxins or other secondary metabolites. Recently, Florida cattle farmers reported cattle illness, while the cattle were grazing on warm-season grass pastures, that was not attributable to common causes, such as nutritional imbalances or nitrate toxicity. To understand correlations between grass mycobiome and mycotoxin production, we investigated the mycobiomes associated with five prominent, perennial forage and weed grasses [Paspalum notatum Flügge, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Paspalum nicorae Parodi, Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br., and Andropogon virginicus (L.)] collected from six Florida pastures actively grazed by livestock. Black fungal stromata of Myriogenospora and Balansia were observed on P. notatum and S. indicus leaves and were investigated. High-throughput amplicon sequencing was applied to delineate leaf mycobiomes. Mycotoxins from P. notatum leaves were inspected using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Grass species, cultivars, and geographic localities interactively affected fungal community assemblies of asymptomatic leaves. Among the grass species, the greatest fungal richness was detected in the weed S. indicus. The black fungal structures of P. notatum leaves were dominated by the genus Myriogenospora, while those of S. indicus were codominated by the genus Balansia and a hypermycoparasitic fungus of the genus Clonostachys. When comparing mycotoxins detected in P. notatum leaves with and without M. atramentosa, emodin, an anthraquinone, was the only compound which was significantly different (P < 0.05). Understanding the leaf mycobiome and the mycotoxins it may produce in warm-season grasses has important implications for how these associations lead to secondary metabolite production and their subsequent impact on animal health. IMPORTANCE The leaf mycobiome of forage grasses can have a major impact on their mycotoxin contents of forage and subsequently affect livestock health. Despite the importance of the cattle industry in warm-climate regions, such as Florida, studies have been primarily limited to temperate forage systems. Our study provides a holistic view of leaf fungi considering epibiotic, endophytic, and hypermycoparasitic associations with five perennial, warm-season forage and weed grasses. We highlight that plant identity and geographic location interactively affect leaf fungal community composition. Yeasts appeared to be an overlooked fungal group in healthy forage mycobiomes. Furthermore, we detected high emodin quantities in the leaves of a widely planted forage species (P. notatum) whenever epibiotic fungi occurred. Our study demonstrated the importance of identifying fungal communities, ecological roles, and secondary metabolites in perennial, warm-season grasses and their potential for interfering with livestock health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ko-Hsuan Chen
- The University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center, Quincy, Florida, USA
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Florencia Marcón
- Department of Agronomy, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Jennifer Duringer
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Ann Blount
- The University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center, Quincy, Florida, USA
| | - Cheryl Mackowiak
- The University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center, Quincy, Florida, USA
- Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Hui-Ling Liao
- The University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center, Quincy, Florida, USA
- Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Pre-invasion assessment on African invasive grasses revealed five new species of ergot fungi, Claviceps section Pusillae. Fungal Biol 2022; 126:752-763. [PMID: 36517143 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Ergot, the genus Claviceps comprises several deeply diverged lineages, recently classified as sections. Among them, the section Pusillae, is the most speciose, with a centre of distribution in Africa but occurring worldwide, often as a consequence of its invasive potential. This section includes the most severe plant pathogens such as Claviceps africana and C. gigantea, responsible for toxicoses and a significant reduction in the seed yields of Sorghum and Zea. In this study we surveyed ergot diversity in South Africa, focusing on grasses native to this region, but known for their high potential of invasiveness. The revision based on molecular and phenotypic markers revealed 16 species, with a high proportion of undescribed diversity, confirming Africa as a hot spot for this section. Five new species, Claviceps tulasnei, Claviceps eulaliae, Claviceps hypertheliae, Claviceps fredericksoniae and Claviceps arundinellae were described from Setaria, Eulalia, Hyperthelia, Miscanthus and Arundinella respectively. Claviceps texensis infecting Cenchrus, previously only identified from the same host in Texas, USA, was confirmed to be present in Africa, which is assumed to be its primary area of distribution. In addition, the host grass genus Anthephora is newly reported as a host of Claviceps digitariae. The most of the taxa were negligible concerning alkaloid production, with the exception of C. fredericksoniae, which is a sister of potent alkaloid producer C. africana, and produces mainly DH-ergosine, together with traces of DH-ergocornine. The host/parasite associations within Pusillae section is very narrow, suggesting that co-speciation is the major speciation driver in this group. Host grasses of the described species are already recognised invasive species and their ovarial parasites need to be monitored. This is highlighted by the fact that all Pusillae produced air-borne secondary conidia, which is autapomorphy of this section and considered to be important for their invasive abilities.
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Leslie JF, Moretti A, Mesterházy Á, Ameye M, Audenaert K, Singh PK, Richard-Forget F, Chulze SN, Ponte EMD, Chala A, Battilani P, Logrieco AF. Key Global Actions for Mycotoxin Management in Wheat and Other Small Grains. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:725. [PMID: 34679018 PMCID: PMC8541216 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13100725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycotoxins in small grains are a significant and long-standing problem. These contaminants may be produced by members of several fungal genera, including Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Claviceps, and Penicillium. Interventions that limit contamination can be made both pre-harvest and post-harvest. Many problems and strategies to control them and the toxins they produce are similar regardless of the location at which they are employed, while others are more common in some areas than in others. Increased knowledge of host-plant resistance, better agronomic methods, improved fungicide management, and better storage strategies all have application on a global basis. We summarize the major pre- and post-harvest control strategies currently in use. In the area of pre-harvest, these include resistant host lines, fungicides and their application guided by epidemiological models, and multiple cultural practices. In the area of post-harvest, drying, storage, cleaning and sorting, and some end-product processes were the most important at the global level. We also employed the Nominal Group discussion technique to identify and prioritize potential steps forward and to reduce problems associated with human and animal consumption of these grains. Identifying existing and potentially novel mechanisms to effectively manage mycotoxin problems in these grains is essential to ensure the safety of humans and domesticated animals that consume these grains.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F. Leslie
- Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center, Department of Plant Pathology, 1712 Claflin Avenue, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA;
| | - Antonio Moretti
- Institute of the Science of Food Production, National Research Council (CNR-ISPA), Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Ákos Mesterházy
- Cereal Research Non-Profit Ltd., Alsókikötő sor 9, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Maarten Ameye
- Department of Plant and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (M.A.); (K.A.)
| | - Kris Audenaert
- Department of Plant and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (M.A.); (K.A.)
| | - Pawan K. Singh
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Apdo. Postal 6-641, Mexico 06600, DF, Mexico;
| | | | - Sofía N. Chulze
- Research Institute on Mycology and Mycotoxicology (IMICO), National Scientific and Technical Research Council-National University of Río Cuarto (CONICET-UNRC), 5800 Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina;
| | - Emerson M. Del Ponte
- Departamento de Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil;
| | - Alemayehu Chala
- College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Hawassa 1000, Ethiopia;
| | - Paola Battilani
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via E. Parmense, 84-29122 Piacenza, Italy;
| | - Antonio F. Logrieco
- Institute of the Science of Food Production, National Research Council (CNR-ISPA), Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy;
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Oberti H, Dalla Rizza M, Reyno R, Murchio S, Altier N, Abreo E. Diversity of Claviceps paspali reveals unknown lineages and unique alkaloid genotypes. Mycologia 2020; 112:230-243. [PMID: 31910144 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2019.1694827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Claviceps species affecting Paspalum spp. are a serious problem, as they infect forage grasses such as Paspalum dilatatum and P. plicatulum, producing the ergot disease. The ascomycete C. paspali is known to be the pathogen responsible for this disease in both grasses. This fungus produces alkaloids, including ergot alkaloids and indole-diterpenes, that have potent neurotropic activities in mammals. A total of 32 isolates from Uruguay were obtained from infected P. dilatatum and P. plicatulum. Isolates were phylogenetically identified using partial sequences of the genes coding for the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase subunit II (RPB2), translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1), β-tubulin (TUB2), and the nuc rDNA 28S subunit (28S). Isolates were also genotyped by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and presence of genes within the ergot alkaloid (EAS) and indole-diterpene (IDT) biosynthetic gene clusters. This study represents the first genetic characterization of several isolates of C. paspali. The results from this study provide insight into the genetic and genotypic diversity of Claviceps paspali present in P. dilatatum and suggest that isolates from P. plicatulum could be considered an ecological subspecies or specialized variant of C. paspali. Some of these isolates show hypothetical alkaloid genotypes never reported before.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Oberti
- Unidad de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Las Brujas, Uruguay
| | - M Dalla Rizza
- Unidad de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Las Brujas, Uruguay
| | - R Reyno
- Programa Nacional de Forraje y Pasturas, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria Tacuarembó, Tacuarembó, Uruguay
| | - S Murchio
- Unidad de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Las Brujas, Uruguay
| | - N Altier
- Laboratorio de Bioproducción, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Las Brujas, Uruguay
| | - E Abreo
- Laboratorio de Bioproducción, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Las Brujas, Uruguay
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Píchová K, Pažoutová S, Kostovčík M, Chudíčková M, Stodůlková E, Novák P, Flieger M, van der Linde E, Kolařík M. Evolutionary history of ergot with a new infrageneric classification (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae: Claviceps). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 123:73-87. [PMID: 29481949 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The ergot, genus Claviceps, comprises approximately 60 species of specialised ovarial grass parasites famous for the production of food toxins and pharmaceutics. Although the ergot has been known for centuries, its evolution have not been resolved yet. Our approach combining multilocus phylogeny, molecular dating and the study of ecological, morphological and metabolic features shows that Claviceps originated in South America in the Palaeocene on a common ancestor of BEP (subfamilies Bambusoideae, Ehrhartoideae, Pooideae) and PACMAD (subfamilies Panicoideae, Aristidoideae, Chloridoideae, Micrairoideae, Arundinoideae, Danthonioideae) grasses. Four clades described here as sections diverged during the Paleocene and Eocene. Since Claviceps are parasitic fungi with a close relationship with their host plants, their evolution is influenced by interactions with the new hosts, either by the spread to a new continent or the radiation of the host plants. Three of the sections possess very narrow host ranges and biogeographical distributions and have relatively low toxicity. On the contrary, the section Claviceps, comprising the rye ergot, C. purpurea, is unique in all aspects. Fungi in this section of North American origin have spread all over the world and infect grasses in all subfamilies as well as sedges, and it is the only section synthesising toxic ergopeptines and secalonic acids. The evolutionary success of the Claviceps section members can be explained by high toxin presence, serving as feeding deterrents and playing a role in their protective mutualism with host plants. Closely related taxa Neoclaviceps monostipa and Cepsiclava phalaridis were combined into the genus Aciculosporium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Píchová
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, CZ-12801 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sylvie Pažoutová
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kostovčík
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milada Chudíčková
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Stodůlková
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Novák
- Laboratory of Structural Biology and Cell Signalling, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Flieger
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Elna van der Linde
- Biosystematics Division, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X134, Pretoria 0121, South Africa
| | - Miroslav Kolařík
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, CZ-14220 Prague, Czech Republic.
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van der Linde EJ, Pešicová K, Pažoutová S, Stodůlková E, Flieger M, Kolařík M. Ergot species of the Claviceps purpurea group from South Africa. Fungal Biol 2016; 120:917-930. [PMID: 27521625 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2016.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Results of a survey and study of the Claviceps purpurea group of species in South Africa are being presented and five new species are described. Morphological descriptions are based on the anamorphs and four nuclear genetic loci. Claviceps fimbristylidis sp. nov. on Fimbristylis complanata was discovered wide-spread across five provinces of the country associated with water and represents the fourth Claviceps species recorded from the Cyperaceae. Claviceps monticola sp. nov. is described from Brachypodium flexum growing in mountain forests in Mpumalanga Province, as well as the northern Drakensberg southwards into the Eastern Cape Province. Claviceps pazoutovae sp. nov. is recorded from Stipa dregeana var. dregeana and Ehrharta erecta var. erecta, also associated with these mountain ranges. Claviceps macroura sp. nov. is recorded from Cenchrus macrourus from the Eastern Cape and Claviceps capensis sp. nov. from Ehrharta villosa var. villosa is recorded from the Western Cape Province. Claviceps cyperi, only recorded from South Africa is included in the study. Ergot alkaloid profiles of all species are provided and showed similarity to C. purpurea. Only C. cyperi and in lesser degree C. capensis, C. macroura, and C. pazoutovae produced ergot alkaloids in clinically significant amounts. Several reported species infect invasive grass species, native to South Africa, and thus represent potentially invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elna J van der Linde
- Biosystematics Division, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X134, Pretoria 0121, South Africa.
| | - Kamila Pešicová
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Praha 4, Czech Republic; Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01 Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Sylvie Pažoutová
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Praha 4, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Stodůlková
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Praha 4, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Flieger
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Praha 4, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Kolařík
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Praha 4, Czech Republic.
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