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Sevarika M, Beccari G, Tini F, Ederli L, Bellezza I, Covarelli L, Romani R. Effect of the mycotoxins enniatin B and deoxynivalenol on the wheat aphid Sitobion avenae and on the predatory lacewing Chrysoperla carnea. Pest Manag Sci 2024. [PMID: 38312069 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fusarium species are responsible for Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat, resulting in yield losses and mycotoxin contamination. Deoxynivalenol (DON) and enniatins (ENNs) are common mycotoxins produced by Fusarium, affecting plant, animal and human health. Although DON's effects have been widely studied, limited research has explored the impact of ENNs on insects. This study examines the influence of DON and enniatin B (ENB), both singularly and in combination, on the wheat aphid Sitobion avenae and one of its predators, the lacewing Chrysoperla carnea. RESULTS When exposed to DON (100 mg L-1 ) or DON + ENB (100 mg L-1 ), S. avenae exhibited significantly increased mortality compared to the negative control. ENB (100 mg L-1 ) had no significant effect on aphid mortality. DON-treated aphids showed increasing mortality from 48 to 96 h. A dose-response relationship with DON revealed significant cumulative mortality starting at 25 mg L-1 . By contrast, C. carnea larvae exposed to mycotoxins via cuticular application did not show significant differences in mortality when mycotoxins were dissolved in water but exhibited increased mortality with acetone-solubilized DON + ENB (100 mg L-1 ). Feeding C. carnea with aphids exposed to mycotoxins (indirect exposure) did not impact their survival or predatory activity. Additionally, the impact of mycotoxins on C. carnea was observed only with acetone-solubilized DON + ENB. CONCLUSIONS These findings shed light on the complex interactions involving mycotoxins, aphids and their predators, offering valuable insights for integrated pest management strategies. Further research should explore broader ecological consequences of mycotoxin contamination in agroecosystems. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milos Sevarika
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Luisa Ederli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bellezza
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Roberto Romani
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Beccari G, Tini F, Jørgensen HJL. Editorial: Current advances in the metabolism of mycotoxins in plants. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1343855. [PMID: 38111877 PMCID: PMC10726963 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1343855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Hans J. L. Jørgensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Senatore MT, Prodi A, Tini F, Balmas V, Infantino A, Onofri A, Cappelletti E, Oufensou S, Sulyok M, Covarelli L, Beccari G. Different diagnostic approaches for the characterization of the fungal community and Fusarium species complex composition of Italian durum wheat grain and correlation with secondary metabolite accumulation. J Sci Food Agric 2023; 103:4503-4521. [PMID: 36828788 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.12526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The evolution of the fungal communities associated with durum wheat was assessed using different diagnostic approaches. Durum wheat grain samples were collected in three different Italian cultivation macro-areas (north, center and south). Fungal isolation was realized by potato dextrose agar (PDA) and by deep-freezing blotter (DFB). Identification of Fusarium isolates obtained from PDA was achieved by partial tef1α sequencing (PDA + tef1α), while those obtained from DFB were identified from their morphological characteristics (DFB + mc). The fungal biomass of eight Fusarium species was quantified in grains by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Fungal secondary metabolites were analyzed in grains by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Correlations between Fusarium detection techniques (PDA + tef1α; DFB + mc and qPCR) and mycotoxins in grains were assessed. RESULTS Alternaria and Fusarium showed the highest incidence among the fungal genera developed from grains. Within the Fusarium community, PDA + tef1α highlighted that F. avenaceum and F. graminearum were the most represented members, while, DFB + mc detected a high presence of F. proliferatum. Alternaria and Fusarium mycotoxins, principally enniatins, were particularly present in the grain harvested in central Italy. Deoxynivalenol was mainly detected in northern-central Italy. CONCLUSIONS The adoption of the different diagnostic techniques of Fusarium detection highlighted that, for some species, qPCR was the best method of predicting their mycotoxin contamination in grains. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Senatore
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonio Prodi
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Virgilio Balmas
- Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Infantino
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Onofri
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cappelletti
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Safa Oufensou
- Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Michael Sulyok
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute of Bionalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Tulln, Austria
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Cerón-Bustamante M, Tini F, Beccari G, Benincasa P, Covarelli L. Effect of Different Light Wavelengths on Zymoseptoria tritici Development and Leaf Colonization in Bread Wheat. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:670. [PMID: 37367606 DOI: 10.3390/jof9060670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici can respond to light by modulating its gene expression. Because several virulence-related genes are differentially expressed in response to light, different wavelengths could have a crucial role in the Z. tritici-wheat interaction. To explore this opportunity, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of blue (470 nm), red (627 nm), blue-red, and white light on the in vitro and in planta development of Z. tritici. The morphology (mycelium appearance, color) and phenotypic (mycelium growth) characteristics of a Z. tritici strain were evaluated after 14 days under the different light conditions in two independent experiments. In addition, bread wheat plants were artificially inoculated with Z. tritici and grown for 35 days under the same light treatments. The disease incidence, severity, and fungal DNA were analyzed in a single experiment. Statistical differences were determined by using an ANOVA. The obtained results showed that the different light wavelengths induced specific morphological changes in mycelial growth. The blue light significantly reduced colony growth, while the dark and red light favored fungal development (p < 0.05). The light quality also influenced host colonization, whereby the white and red light had stimulating and repressing effects, respectively (p < 0.05). This precursory study demonstrated the influence of light on Z. tritici colonization in bread wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minely Cerón-Bustamante
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Paolo Benincasa
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
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Valenti I, Tini F, Sevarika M, Agazzi A, Beccari G, Bellezza I, Ederli L, Grottelli S, Pasquali M, Romani R, Saracchi M, Covarelli L. Impact of Enniatin and Deoxynivalenol Co-Occurrence on Plant, Microbial, Insect, Animal and Human Systems: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:271. [PMID: 37104209 PMCID: PMC10144843 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15040271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusarium mycotoxins commonly contaminate agricultural products resulting in a serious threat to both animal and human health. The co-occurrence of different mycotoxins in the same cereal field is very common, so the risks as well as the functional and ecological effects of mycotoxins cannot always be predicted by focusing only on the effect of the single contaminants. Enniatins (ENNs) are among the most frequently detected emerging mycotoxins, while deoxynivalenol (DON) is probably the most common contaminant of cereal grains worldwide. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the simultaneous exposure to these mycotoxins, with emphasis on the combined effects in multiple organisms. Our literature analysis shows that just a few studies on ENN-DON toxicity are available, suggesting the complexity of mycotoxin interactions, which include synergistic, antagonistic, and additive effects. Both ENNs and DON modulate drug efflux transporters, therefore this specific ability deserves to be explored to better understand their complex biological role. Additionally, future studies should investigate the interaction mechanisms of mycotoxin co-occurrence on different model organisms, using concentrations closer to real exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Valenti
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (I.V.); (M.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.E.); (R.R.); (L.C.)
| | - Milos Sevarika
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.E.); (R.R.); (L.C.)
| | - Alessandro Agazzi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, 26900 Lodi, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.E.); (R.R.); (L.C.)
| | - Ilaria Bellezza
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy; (I.B.); (S.G.)
| | - Luisa Ederli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.E.); (R.R.); (L.C.)
| | - Silvia Grottelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy; (I.B.); (S.G.)
| | - Matias Pasquali
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (I.V.); (M.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Roberto Romani
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.E.); (R.R.); (L.C.)
| | - Marco Saracchi
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; (I.V.); (M.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (M.S.); (G.B.); (L.E.); (R.R.); (L.C.)
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Tini F, Covarelli L, Cowger C, Sulyok M, Benincasa P, Beccari G. Infection timing affects Fusarium poae colonization of bread wheat spikes and mycotoxin accumulation in the grain. J Sci Food Agric 2022; 102:6358-6372. [PMID: 35535556 PMCID: PMC9796436 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.12002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fusarium poae is one of the most common Fusarium head blight (FHB) causal agents in wheat. This species can biosynthesize a wide range of mycotoxins, in particular nivalenol (NIV). In FHB epidemiology, infection timing is important for disease occurrence, kernel development, symptom appearance and mycotoxin accumulation in grain. The present study explored, both in a controlled environment and in a 2-year field plot experiment in Central Italy, the influence of five infection timings (from beginning of flowering to medium milk growth stage) on F. poae colonization and mycotoxin accumulation in bread wheat spikes (spring cv. A416 and winter cv. Ambrogio). RESULTS Both climate chamber and field experiments showed that early infection timings (from beginning of flowering to full flowering) especially favoured F. poae colonization and accumulation of its mycotoxins (particularly NIV) in grain. By contrast, later infection timings (watery ripe and medium milk) reduced F. poae development and mycotoxin levels. The time window of host susceptibility in the field was shorter than that observed under controlled conditions. Symptom expression in kernels also differed among infection timings. In general, F. poae biomass was higher in the chaff than in the grain. CONCLUSION These results enhance knowledge of a common member of the FHB complex worldwide, and could be useful in forecasting the risk of F. poae infection and mycotoxin contamination. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental SciencesUniversity of PerugiaPerugiaItaly
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental SciencesUniversity of PerugiaPerugiaItaly
| | - Christina Cowger
- United States Department of Agriculture‐Agricultural Research Service, Department of Entomology and Plant PathologyNorth Carolina State University27695RaleighUSA
| | - Michael Sulyok
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, ViennaDepartment of Agrobiotechnology (IFA‐Tulln), Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro‐MetabolomicsKonrad Lorenz Strasse 20, A‐3430TullnAustria
| | - Paolo Benincasa
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental SciencesUniversity of PerugiaPerugiaItaly
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental SciencesUniversity of PerugiaPerugiaItaly
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Cerón-Bustamante M, Balducci E, Beccari G, Nicholson P, Covarelli L, Benincasa P. Effect of light spectra on cereal fungal pathogens, a review. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2022.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Beccari G, Hao G, Liu H. Editorial: Fusarium pathogenesis: Infection mechanisms and disease progression in host plants. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:1020404. [PMID: 36311135 PMCID: PMC9599377 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1020404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Guixia Hao
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Peoria, IL, United States
- *Correspondence: Guixia Hao,
| | - Huiquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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Troni E, Beccari G, D’Amato R, Tini F, Baldo D, Senatore MT, Beone GM, Fontanella MC, Prodi A, Businelli D, Covarelli L. In Vitro Evaluation of the Inhibitory Activity of Different Selenium Chemical Forms on the Growth of a Fusarium proliferatum Strain Isolated from Rice Seedlings. Plants 2021; 10:plants10081725. [PMID: 34451770 PMCID: PMC8398910 DOI: 10.3390/plants10081725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the in vitro effects of different Se concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20, and 100 mg kg−1) from different Se forms (sodium selenite, sodium selenate, selenomethionine, and selenocystine) on the development of a Fusarium proliferatum strain isolated from rice were investigated. A concentration-dependent effect was detected. Se reduced fungal growth starting from 10 mg kg−1 and increasing the concentration (15, 20, and 100 mg kg−1) enhanced the inhibitory effect. Se bioactivity was also chemical form dependent. Selenocystine was found to be the most effective at the lowest concentration (5 mg kg−1). Complete growth inhibition was observed at 20 mg kg−1 of Se from selenite, selenomethionine, and selenocystine. Se speciation analysis revealed that fungus was able to change the Se speciation when the lowest Se concentration was applied. Scanning Electron Microscopy showed an alteration of the fungal morphology induced by Se. Considering that the inorganic forms have a higher solubility in water and are cheaper than organic forms, 20 mg kg−1 of Se from selenite can be suggested as the best combination suitable to inhibit F. proliferatum strain. The addition of low concentrations of Se from selenite to conventional fungicides may be a promising alternative approach for the control of Fusarium species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Troni
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (E.T.); (F.T.); (D.B.); (L.C.)
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (E.T.); (F.T.); (D.B.); (L.C.)
- Correspondence: (G.B.); (R.D.)
| | - Roberto D’Amato
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (E.T.); (F.T.); (D.B.); (L.C.)
- Correspondence: (G.B.); (R.D.)
| | - Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (E.T.); (F.T.); (D.B.); (L.C.)
| | - David Baldo
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (D.B.); (M.T.S.); (A.P.)
| | - Maria Teresa Senatore
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (D.B.); (M.T.S.); (A.P.)
| | - Gian Maria Beone
- Department for Sustainable Food Process, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Piacenza, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (G.M.B.); (M.C.F.)
| | - Maria Chiara Fontanella
- Department for Sustainable Food Process, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Piacenza, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (G.M.B.); (M.C.F.)
| | - Antonio Prodi
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (D.B.); (M.T.S.); (A.P.)
| | - Daniela Businelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (E.T.); (F.T.); (D.B.); (L.C.)
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (E.T.); (F.T.); (D.B.); (L.C.)
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Senatore MT, Ward TJ, Cappelletti E, Beccari G, McCormick SP, Busman M, Laraba I, O'Donnell K, Prodi A. Species diversity and mycotoxin production by members of the Fusarium tricinctum species complex associated with Fusarium head blight of wheat and barley in Italy. Int J Food Microbiol 2021; 358:109298. [PMID: 34210546 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2021.109298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a global cereal disease caused by a complex of Fusarium species. In Europe, the main species responsible for FHB are F. graminearum, F. culmorum and F. poae. However, members of the F. tricinctum species complex (FTSC) have become increasingly important. FTSC fusaria can synthesize mycotoxins such as moniliformin (MON), enniatins (ENNs) and several other biologically active secondary metabolites that could compromise food quality. In this study, FTSC isolates primarily from Italian durum wheat and barley, together with individual strains from four non-graminaceous hosts, were collected to assess their genetic diversity and determine their potential to produce mycotoxins in vitro on rice cultures. A multilocus DNA sequence dataset (TEF1, RPB1 and RPB2) was constructed for 117 isolates from Italy and 6 from Iran to evaluate FTSC species diversity and their evolutionary relationships. Phylogenetic analyses revealed wide genetic diversity among Italian FTSC isolates. Among previously described FTSC species, F. avenaceum (FTSC 4) was the most common species in Italy (56/117 = 47.9%) while F. tricinctum (FTSC 3), and F. acuminatum (FTSC 2) accounted for 11.1% (13/117) and the 8.5% (10/117), respectively. The second most detected species was a new and unnamed Fusarium sp. (FTSC 12; 32/117 = 19%) resolved as the sister group of F. tricinctum. Collectively, these four phylospecies accounted for 111/117 = 94.9% of the Italian FTSC collection. However, we identified five other FTSC species at low frequencies, including F. iranicum (FTSC 6) and three newly discovered species (Fusarium spp. FTSC 13, 14, 15). Of the 59 FTSC isolates tested for mycotoxin production on rice cultures, 54 and 55 strains, respectively, were able to produce detectable levels of ENNs and MON. In addition, we confirmed that the ability to produce bioactive secondary metabolites such as chlamydosporol, acuminatopyrone, longiborneol, fungerin and butanolide is widespread across the FTSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T Senatore
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin, 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - T J Ward
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, IL 60604-3999, USA
| | - E Cappelletti
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin, 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - G Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - S P McCormick
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, IL 60604-3999, USA
| | - M Busman
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, IL 60604-3999, USA
| | - I Laraba
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, IL 60604-3999, USA
| | - K O'Donnell
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, IL 60604-3999, USA
| | - A Prodi
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin, 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
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Tini F, Beccari G, Marconi G, Porceddu A, Sulyok M, Gardiner DM, Albertini E, Covarelli L. Identification of Putative Virulence Genes by DNA Methylation Studies in the Cereal Pathogen Fusarium graminearum. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051192. [PMID: 34068122 PMCID: PMC8152758 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation mediates organisms’ adaptations to environmental changes in a wide range of species. We investigated if a such a strategy is also adopted by Fusarium graminearum in regulating virulence toward its natural hosts. A virulent strain of this fungus was consecutively sub-cultured for 50 times (once a week) on potato dextrose agar. To assess the effect of subculturing on virulence, wheat seedlings and heads (cv. A416) were inoculated with subcultures (SC) 1, 23, and 50. SC50 was also used to re-infect (three times) wheat heads (SC50×3) to restore virulence. In vitro conidia production, colonies growth and secondary metabolites production were also determined for SC1, SC23, SC50, and SC50×3. Seedling stem base and head assays revealed a virulence decline of all subcultures, whereas virulence was restored in SC50×3. The same trend was observed in conidia production. The DNA isolated from SC50 and SC50×3 was subject to a methylation content-sensitive enzyme and double-digest, restriction-site-associated DNA technique (ddRAD-MCSeEd). DNA methylation analysis indicated 1024 genes, whose methylation levels changed in response to the inoculation on a healthy host after subculturing. Several of these genes are already known to be involved in virulence by functional analysis. These results demonstrate that the physiological shifts following sub-culturing have an impact on genomic DNA methylation levels and suggest that the ddRAD-MCSeEd approach can be an important tool for detecting genes potentially related to fungal virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
| | - Gianpiero Marconi
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrea Porceddu
- Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Viale Italia, 39a, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Micheal Sulyok
- Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz Strasse, 20, A-3430 Tulln, Austria;
| | - Donald M. Gardiner
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia;
| | - Emidio Albertini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (F.T.); (G.B.); (E.A.); (L.C.)
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Tini F, Beccari G, Onofri A, Ciavatta E, Gardiner DM, Covarelli L. Fungicides may have differential efficacies towards the main causal agents of Fusarium head blight of wheat. Pest Manag Sci 2020; 76:3738-3748. [PMID: 32430980 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a complex disease of wheat and barley caused by several Fusarium species. In recent years, a variation in the composition of the FHB community has been observed in several wheat cultivation areas across the world. In detail, F. avenaceum and F. poae increased their frequencies, while, a lower F. graminearum and F. culmorum incidence was simultaneously observed. These shifts within the FHB complex might have been caused by different factors, including the selective pressure caused by fungicides used to control the disease in the field. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate, both in in vitro experiments and in field trials, the activity of commonly used fungicides of wheat (tebuconazole, metconazole, prothioconazole and prochloraz) towards the above mentioned four Fusarium species. RESULTS A preliminary in vitro assay revealed that low concentrations of all tested fungicides caused the incomplete reduction of fungal development. Furthermore, F. poae and F. avenaceum showed, at the same time, a lower sensitivity to all tested fungicides. In field trials, all fungicides showed an activity against the four Fusarium species. However, F. avenaceum exhibited a reduced sensitivity to metconazole. The lower efficacy of metconazole towards F. avenaceum was also confirmed by an additional in vitro experiment on several F. avenaceum and F. graminearum different strains. CONCLUSION The selective pressure exerted by the extensive use of certain fungicides may influence population dynamics of Fusarium species due to their different sensitivity. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Onofri
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Emiliano Ciavatta
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Donald M Gardiner
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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13
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Abstract
The duration of wheat susceptibility to Fusarium infection has implications for risk forecasting, fungicide timing, and the likelihood that visible kernel damage may underpredict deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination. A field experiment was conducted to explore the impact of varying infection timings on Fusarium head blight (FHB) development in winter wheat. Trials in four successive years (2010 to 2013) in North Carolina utilized one susceptible and one moderately resistant cultivar possessing similar maturity, stature, and grain quality. Inoculum was applied in the form of sprayed Fusarium graminearum conidia. In the first year, the nine infection timings were from 0 to 21 days after anthesis (daa), whereas in the following 3 years, they ranged from 0 to 13 daa. Infection progression was compared among inoculation timings by sampling spikes five to six times during grain-fill. Based on DON, percent kernel damage and kernel infection, and fungal spread as assayed via qPCR, the moderately resistant cultivar had at least a 2- to 3-day shorter window of susceptibility to damaging FHB infection than the susceptible cultivar. The results suggest that duration of susceptibility is an important aspect of cultivar resistance to FHB. In 2012, the window of susceptibility for both cultivars was extended by cold snaps during anthesis. After debranning in one year, the majority of DON was found to be in the bran fraction of kernels; there was also a trend for later infections to lead to a higher percentage of DON in the nonbran fraction, as well as a higher ratio of DON to FDK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Cowger
- USDA-ARS, Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, U.S.A
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Yanhong Dong
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, U.S.A
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Quaglia M, Santinelli M, Sulyok M, Onofri A, Covarelli L, Beccari G. Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium species associated with dried date fruits collected in the Perugia (Umbria, Central Italy) market. Int J Food Microbiol 2020; 322:108585. [PMID: 32179333 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2020.108585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
A total of 20 dried date samples, chosen as representative among those available on the Perugia (Umbria, Central Italy) market, were analyzed for the possible occurrence of fungal species and related contamination by fungal secondary metabolites. Twenty-six isolates, representative of the total mycobiota, were obtained and morphologically identified as belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium. Inside each genus, molecular characterization (by partial sequencing of ITS region and/or β-tubulin and calmodulin regions for Aspergillus and Penicillium isolates or actin region for Cladosporium isolates) and in vitro mycotoxigenic profile characterization (by LC-MS/MS analysis) showed the presence of the following species: A. flavus, A. tubingensis, P. brevicompactum, P. chrysogenum, P. crustosum, P. glabrum, P. solitum, P. venetum, C. cladosporioides, C. limoniforme and C. halotolerans, with A. tubingensis as the prevalent species and P. crustosum, P. solitum, P. venetum and C. limoniforme first reported here on dates. Date packaging and format showed an effect on the incidence of isolated fungi, with the lowest incidence recovered from whole dates and in hermetic bag packaging. These findings can be useful both for dried dates producers and consumers, guiding them towards choices of packaging and format with a lower risk of mycotoxigenic species presence. However, no fungal metabolites were detected in the dried date samples analyzed, which were therefore regarded as safe for human consumption, underlining the absence of correspondence between fungal isolation and mycotoxin contaminations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Quaglia
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, I-06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Marina Santinelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, I-06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Michael Sulyok
- Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Department IFA-Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), A-3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Andrea Onofri
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, I-06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, I-06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, I-06121 Perugia, Italy
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Beccari G, Stępień Ł, Onofri A, Lattanzio VMT, Ciasca B, Abd-El Fatah SI, Valente F, Urbaniak M, Covarelli L. In Vitro Fumonisin Biosynthesis and Genetic Structure of Fusarium verticillioides Strains from Five Mediterranean Countries. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8020241. [PMID: 32053959 PMCID: PMC7074703 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8020241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigating the in vitro fumonisin biosynthesis and the genetic structure of Fusarium verticillioides populations can provide important insights into the relationships between strains originating from various world regions. In this study, 90 F. verticillioides strains isolated from maize in five Mediterranean countries (Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt and Iran) were analyzed to investigate their ability to in vitro biosynthesize fumonisin B1, fumonisin B2 and fumonisin B3 and to characterize their genetic profile. In general, 80% of the analyzed strains were able to biosynthesize fumonisins (range 0.03–69.84 μg/g). Populations from Italy, Spain, Tunisia and Iran showed a similar percentage of fumonisin producing strains (>90%); conversely, the Egyptian population showed a lower level of producing strains (46%). Significant differences in fumonisin biosynthesis were detected among strains isolated in the same country and among strains isolated from different countries. A portion of the divergent FUM1 gene and of intergenic regions FUM6-FUM7 and FUM7-FUM8 were sequenced to evaluate strain diversity among populations. A high level of genetic uniformity inside the populations analyzed was detected. Apparently, neither geographical origin nor fumonisin production ability were correlated to the genetic diversity of the strain set. However, four strains from Egypt differed from the remaining strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.B.); (A.O.); (F.V.)
| | - Łukasz Stępień
- Department of Pathogen Genetics and Plant Resistance, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 60-479 Poznan, Poland; (Ł.S.); (M.U.)
| | - Andrea Onofri
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.B.); (A.O.); (F.V.)
| | - Veronica M. T. Lattanzio
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA-CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy; (V.M.T.L.); (B.C.)
| | - Biancamaria Ciasca
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA-CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy; (V.M.T.L.); (B.C.)
| | - Sally I. Abd-El Fatah
- Food Toxins and Contaminants Department, National Research Centre, Cairo 12622, Egypt;
| | - Francesco Valente
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.B.); (A.O.); (F.V.)
| | - Monika Urbaniak
- Department of Pathogen Genetics and Plant Resistance, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 60-479 Poznan, Poland; (Ł.S.); (M.U.)
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.B.); (A.O.); (F.V.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0755856464
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16
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Beccari G, Prodi A, Senatore MT, Balmas V, Tini F, Onofri A, Pedini L, Sulyok M, Brocca L, Covarelli L. Cultivation Area Affects the Presence of Fungal Communities and Secondary Metabolites in Italian Durum Wheat Grains. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:E97. [PMID: 32028570 PMCID: PMC7076967 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12020097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, durum wheat kernels harvested in three climatically different Italian cultivation areas (Emilia Romagna, Umbria and Sardinia) in 2015, were analyzed with a combination of different isolation methods to determine their fungal communities, with a focus on Fusarium head blight (FHB) complex composition, and to detect fungal secondary metabolites in the grains. The genus Alternaria was the main component of durum wheat mycobiota in all investigated regions, with the Central Italian cultivation area showing the highest incidence of this fungal genus and of its secondary metabolites. Fusarium was the second most prevalent genus of the fungal community in all cultivation environments, even if regional differences in species composition were detected. In particular, Northern areas showed the highest Fusarium incidence, followed by Central and then Southern cultivation areas. Focusing on the FHB complex, a predominance of Fusariumpoae, in particular in Northern and Central cultivation areas, was found. Fusariumgraminearum, in the analyzed year, was mainly detected in Emilia Romagna. Because of the highest Fusarium incidence, durum wheat harvested in the Northern cultivation area showed the highest presence of Fusarium secondary metabolites. These results show that durum wheat cultivated in Northern Italy may be subject to a higher FHB infection risk and to Fusarium mycotoxins accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.B.); (F.T.); (A.O.); (L.P.); or
| | - Antonio Prodi
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin, 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Maria Teresa Senatore
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin, 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Virgilio Balmas
- Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Via E. De Nicola, 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.B.); (F.T.); (A.O.); (L.P.); or
| | - Andrea Onofri
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.B.); (F.T.); (A.O.); (L.P.); or
| | - Luca Pedini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.B.); (F.T.); (A.O.); (L.P.); or
| | - Michael Sulyok
- Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz Strasse, 20, A-3430 Tulln, Austria;
| | - Luca Brocca
- Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection, National Research Council, Via della Madonna Alta, 126, 06128 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (G.B.); (F.T.); (A.O.); (L.P.); or
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Tini F, Beccari G, Benfield AH, Gardiner DM, Covarelli L. Role of the XylA gene, encoding a cell wall degrading enzyme, during common wheat, durum wheat and barley colonization by Fusarium graminearum. Fungal Genet Biol 2019; 136:103318. [PMID: 31841669 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2019.103318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is the main causal agent of fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat and barley. This filamentous fungus is able to produce hydrolytic enzymes, such as xylanases, that cause cell wall degradation, permitting host colonization. This study investigated the role of the F. graminearum XylA (FGSG_10999) gene during infection, using a knockout mutant in strain CS3005. Assays were carried out on common wheat, durum wheat and barley to compare virulence of a XylA knockout to that of wild type strain. These assays were conducted on wheat and barley seedling roots, seedling stem bases and heads. Furthermore, additional in vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the role of XylA gene in the utilisation of D-xylose, the main component of cereals cell wall. In planta assays showed the importance of XylA gene for F. graminearum virulence towards its main hosts. A positive correlation between symptom incidence and fungal biomass development was also observed for both the wild type and the knockout strains. Finally, gene expression studies performed in a liquid medium enriched with D-xylose, a known xylanase inducer in other fungi, showed that the absence of the gene in the FGSG_10999 locus was not compensated by two other F. graminearum xylanase encoding genes analysed (loci FGSG_06445 and FGSG_11478).
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Affiliation(s)
- F Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - G Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - A H Benfield
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, Brisbane 4067, QLD, Australia
| | - D M Gardiner
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, Brisbane 4067, QLD, Australia
| | - L Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
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18
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Blum A, Benfield AH, Sørensen JL, Nielsen MR, Bachleitner S, Studt L, Beccari G, Covarelli L, Batley J, Gardiner DM. Regulation of a novel Fusarium cytokinin in Fusarium pseudograminearum. Fungal Biol 2019; 123:255-266. [PMID: 30798881 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2018.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium pseudograminearum is an agronomically important fungus, which infects many crop plants, including wheat, where it causes Fusarium crown rot. Like many other fungi, the Fusarium genus produces a wide range of secondary metabolites of which only few have been characterized. Recently a novel gene cluster was discovered in F. pseudograminearum, which encodes production of cytokinin-like metabolites collectively named Fusarium cytokinins. They are structurally similar to plant cytokinins and can activate cytokinin signalling in vitro and in planta. Here, the regulation of Fusarium cytokinin production was analysed in vitro. This revealed that, similar to deoxynivalenol (DON) production in Fusariumgraminearum, cytokinin production can be induced in vitro by specific nitrogen sources in a pH-dependent manner. DON production was also induced in both F. graminearum and F. pseudograminearum in cytokinin-inducing conditions. In addition, microscopic analyses of wheat seedlings infected with a F. pseudograminearum cytokinin reporter strain showed that the fungus specifically induces its cytokinin production in hyphae, which are in close association with the plant, suggestive of a function of Fusarium cytokinins during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailisa Blum
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Brisbane, 4067, Australia; School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Aurélie H Benfield
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Brisbane, 4067, Australia
| | - Jens L Sørensen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Esbjerg, DK-6700, Denmark
| | - Mikkel R Nielsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Esbjerg, DK-6700, Denmark
| | - Simone Bachleitner
- Department of Applied Genetic and Cell Biology-Tulln, BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, 3430, Austria
| | - Lena Studt
- Department of Applied Genetic and Cell Biology-Tulln, BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, 3430, Austria
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06121, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06121, Italy
| | - Jacqueline Batley
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Donald M Gardiner
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Brisbane, 4067, Australia; Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06121, Italy.
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Beccari G, Senatore MT, Tini F, Sulyok M, Covarelli L. Fungal community, Fusarium head blight complex and secondary metabolites associated with malting barley grains harvested in Umbria, central Italy. Int J Food Microbiol 2018; 273:33-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Sørensen JL, Benfield AH, Wollenberg RD, Westphal K, Wimmer R, Nielsen MR, Nielsen KF, Carere J, Covarelli L, Beccari G, Powell J, Yamashino T, Kogler H, Sondergaard TE, Gardiner DM. The cereal pathogen Fusarium pseudograminearum produces a new class of active cytokinins during infection. Mol Plant Pathol 2018; 19:1140-1154. [PMID: 28802024 PMCID: PMC6638160 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The fungal pathogen Fusarium pseudograminearum causes important diseases of wheat and barley. During a survey of secondary metabolites produced by this fungus, a novel class of cytokinins, herein termed Fusarium cytokinins, was discovered. Cytokinins are known for their growth-promoting and anti-senescence activities, and the production of a cytokinin mimic by what was once considered as a necrotrophic pathogen that promotes cell death and senescence challenges the simple view that this pathogen invades its hosts by employing a barrage of lytic enzymes and toxins. Through genome mining, a gene cluster in the F. pseudograminearum genome for the production of Fusarium cytokinins was identified and the biosynthetic pathway was established using gene knockouts. The Fusarium cytokinins could activate plant cytokinin signalling, demonstrating their genuine hormone mimicry. In planta analysis of the transcriptional response to one Fusarium cytokinin suggests extensive reprogramming of the host environment by these molecules, possibly through crosstalk with defence hormone signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Laurids Sørensen
- Department of Chemistry and BioscienceAalborg UniversityAalborg9220, Denmark
- Department of Chemistry and BioscienceAalborg UniversityEsbjerg6700, Denmark
| | - Aurelie H. Benfield
- Queensland Bioscience PrecinctCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Agriculture and FoodBrisbane4067, Australia
| | | | - Klaus Westphal
- Department of Chemistry and BioscienceAalborg UniversityAalborg9220, Denmark
| | - Reinhard Wimmer
- Department of Chemistry and BioscienceAalborg UniversityAalborg9220, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Rank Nielsen
- Department of Chemistry and BioscienceAalborg UniversityEsbjerg6700, Denmark
| | - Kristian Fog Nielsen
- Department of Biotechnology and BiomedicineTechnical University of DenmarkKgs. Lyngby2800, Denmark
| | - Jason Carere
- Queensland Bioscience PrecinctCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Agriculture and FoodBrisbane4067, Australia
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental SciencesUniversity of PerugiaPerugia06121, Italy
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental SciencesUniversity of PerugiaPerugia06121, Italy
| | - Jonathan Powell
- Queensland Bioscience PrecinctCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Agriculture and FoodBrisbane4067, Australia
| | - Takafumi Yamashino
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, School of AgricultureNagoya University, Furocho, Chikusa‐kuNagoya464‐8601, Japan
| | - Herbert Kogler
- Institute for Biological Interfaces 4, Magnetic Resonance, Karlsruhe Institute of TechnologyKarlsruhe76021, Germany
| | | | - Donald Max Gardiner
- Queensland Bioscience PrecinctCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Agriculture and FoodBrisbane4067, Australia
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Beccari G, Colasante V, Tini F, Senatore M, Prodi A, Sulyok M, Covarelli L. Causal agents of Fusarium head blight of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) in central Italy and their in vitro biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Food Microbiol 2018; 70:17-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2017.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Beccari G, Prodi A, Tini F, Bonciarelli U, Onofri A, Oueslati S, Limayma M, Covarelli L. Changes in the Fusarium Head Blight Complex of Malting Barley in a Three-Year Field Experiment in Italy. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 9:E120. [PMID: 28353653 PMCID: PMC5408194 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9040120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, conducted for three years on eleven malting barley varieties cultivated in central Italy, the incidence of different mycotoxigenic fungal genera, the identification of the Fusarium species associated with the Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) complex, and kernels contamination with deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 mycotoxins were determined. The influence of climatic conditions on Fusarium infections and FHB complex composition was also investigated. Fusarium species were always present in the three years and the high average and maximum temperatures during anthesis mainly favored their occurrence. The FHB complex was subject to changes during the three years and the main causal agents were F. poae, F. avenaceum, F. tricinctum and F. graminearum, which, even if constantly present, never represented the principal FHB agent. The relative incidence of Fusarium species changed because of climatic conditions occurring during the seasons. The FHB complex was composed of many different Fusarium species and some of them were associated with a specific variety and/or with specific weather parameters, indicating that the interaction between a certain plant genotype and climatic conditions may influence the presence of Fusarium spp. causing infections. With regard to mycotoxin contamination, T-2 toxin, in some cases, was found in kernels at levels that exceeded EU recommended values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Antonio Prodi
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Umberto Bonciarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Andrea Onofri
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Souheib Oueslati
- Bioengineering Department, Université Libre de Tunis, 30 Av. Kheireddine Pacha, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Marwa Limayma
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
- Bioengineering Department, Université Libre de Tunis, 30 Av. Kheireddine Pacha, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
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Beccari G, Caproni L, Tini F, Uhlig S, Covarelli L. Presence of Fusarium Species and Other Toxigenic Fungi in Malting Barley and Multi-Mycotoxin Analysis by Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. J Agric Food Chem 2016; 64:4390-4399. [PMID: 27127848 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b00702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A study was carried out on 43 malting barley samples collected in 2013 across the Umbria region (central Italy) to determine the incidence of the principal mycotoxigenic fungal genera, to identify the Fusarium species isolated from the grains, and to detect the presence of 34 fungal secondary metabolites by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. The multimycotoxin-method development involved the evaluation of both a two-step solvent and QuEChERS protocol for metabolite extraction. The former protocol was selected because of better accuracy, which was evaluated on the basis of spike-recovery experiments. The most frequently isolated fungal species belonged to the genera Alternaria and Fusarium. The predominant Fusarium species was F. avenaceum, followed by F. graminearum. HT-2 toxin was the most frequently detected mycotoxin, followed by enniatin B, enniatin B1, T-2 toxin, and nivalenol. As a consequence of the observed mixed fungal infections, mycotoxin co-occurrence was also detected. A combination of mycological and mycotoxin analyses allowed the ability to obtain comprehensive information about the presence of mycotoxigenic fungi and their contaminants in malting barley cultivated in a specific geographic area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Beccari
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia , Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Leonardo Caproni
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia , Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute , Ullevålsveien, 68, P.O. Box 750, Sentrum, N-0106 Oslo, Norway
| | - Francesco Tini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia , Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Silvio Uhlig
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute , Ullevålsveien, 68, P.O. Box 750, Sentrum, N-0106 Oslo, Norway
| | - Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia , Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
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Covarelli L, Beccari G, Prodi A, Generotti S, Etruschi F, Meca G, Juan C, Mañes J. Biosynthesis of beauvericin and enniatins in vitro by wheat Fusarium species and natural grain contamination in an area of central Italy. Food Microbiol 2015; 46:618-626. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2014.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2014] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Covarelli L, Beccari G, Prodi A, Generotti S, Etruschi F, Juan C, Ferrer E, Mañes J. Fusarium species, chemotype characterisation and trichothecene contamination of durum and soft wheat in an area of central Italy. J Sci Food Agric 2015; 95:540-551. [PMID: 24909776 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.6772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Revised: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat is an important disease causing yield losses and mycotoxin contamination. The aim of the work was to detect and characterise trichothecene producing Fusarium species in durum and soft wheat cultivated in an area of central Italy in 2009 and 2010 and to determine trichothecene contamination by LC-MS/MS in the grain. RESULTS F. graminearum s. str. was the most frequent species. In 2009, the occurrence of F. avenaceum and F. poae was higher than in 2010. Among F. graminearum strains, the 15-acetyl deoxynivalenol (15-ADON) chemotype could be found more frequently, followed by nivalenol (NIV) and 3-ADON chemotypes, while all F. culmorum isolates belonged to the 3-ADON chemotype. All F. poae strains were NIV chemotypes. In vitro trichothecene production confirmed molecular characterisation. Durum wheat was characterised by a higher average DON contamination with respect to soft wheat, NIV was always detected at appreciable levels while type-A trichothecenes were mostly found in durum wheat samples in 2009 with 6% of samples exceeding the contamination level recently recommended by the European Union. CONCLUSION Climatic conditions were confirmed to be predominant factors influencing mycotoxigenic species composition and mycotoxin contaminations. However, NIV contamination was found to occur irrespective of climatic conditions, suggesting that it may often represent an under-estimated risk to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Covarelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy
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Ferraro FR, Lanzoni B, Dalessandro E, Beccari G, Pasquato M, Miocchi P, Rood RT, Sigurdsson S, Sills A, Vesperini E, Mapelli M, Contreras R, Sanna N, Mucciarelli A. Dynamical age differences among coeval star clusters as revealed by blue stragglers. Nature 2012; 492:393-5. [DOI: 10.1038/nature11686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Covarelli L, Stifano S, Beccari G, Raggi L, Lattanzio VMT, Albertini E. Characterization of Fusarium verticillioides strains isolated from maize in Italy: fumonisin production, pathogenicity and genetic variability. Food Microbiol 2012; 31:17-24. [PMID: 22475938 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2012.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2011] [Revised: 01/18/2012] [Accepted: 02/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Fusarium verticillioides (teleomorph Gibberella moniliformis) is the main fungal agent of ear and kernel rot of maize (Zea mays L.) worldwide, including Italy. F.verticillioides is a highly toxigenic species since it is able to produce the carcinogenic mycotoxins fumonisins. In this study, 25 F. verticillioides strains, isolated from maize in different regions of Italy were analyzed for their ability to produce fumonisins, their pathogenicity and their genetic variability. A further referenced strain of G. moniliformis isolated from maize in USA was also used as outgroup. The fumonisins B₁, B₂, and B₃ were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Pathogenicity tests were carried out by symptom observation and determination of growth parameters after inoculation of maize seeds, seedlings and wounded detached leaves. Total genomic DNA was used for Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. About 20% of the analyzed strains were unable to produce fumonisins in in vitro experiments on inoculated maize flour, while, among fumonisin producers, a great variability was observed, with values ranging from 1 to 115 mg kg⁻¹. The different analyzed strains showed a wide range of pathogenicity in terms of effect on seed germination, seedling development and of symptoms produced on detached leaves, which were not correlated with the different in vitro fumonisin production. AFLP analysis indicated the presence of genetic diversity not only between the Italian strains and the American reference but also among the Italian isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Covarelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
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Covarelli L, Beccari G, Salvi S. Infection by mycotoxigenic fungal species and mycotoxin contamination of maize grain in Umbria, central Italy. Food Chem Toxicol 2011; 49:2365-9. [PMID: 21723360 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2011.06.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2011] [Revised: 06/16/2011] [Accepted: 06/16/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Surveys were carried out in 2006 and 2007 in Umbria (central Italy) to evaluate the presence of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in maize grain sampled at harvest. Fusarium spp., were the most abundant species detected in maize kernels, followed by Aspergillus species of sections Flavi and Nigri and by Penicillium spp. Among Fusarium species, F. verticillioides was the most prevalent species, as detected by PCR directly on the kernels and on the fungi isolated from the kernels, followed by F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans. Fumonisins were the predominant mycotoxins with values, on average, of 4.3 and 5.7 mgkg(-1), in 2006 and 2007, respectively, with a maximum of 76.3 mgkg(-1) in the second year. Deoxynivalenol ranged from 0.2 to 3.98 mgkg(-1) in 2006 (average 1.04 mgkg(-1)) and from undetectable levels to 14 mgkg(-1) in 2007 (average 0.86 mgkg(-1)). Aflatoxins, analyzed only in 2007, averaged 26.3 μgkg(-1), with a maximum of 820 μgkg(-1). Zearalenone content was always very low. Results indicate that EU legal limits for these mycotoxins were rarely exceeded with low levels across most of the examined area, suggesting that this region could be considered suitable for the production of healthy maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Covarelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, University of Perugia, Italy.
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Peraldi A, Beccari G, Steed A, Nicholson P. Brachypodium distachyon: a new pathosystem to study Fusarium head blight and other Fusarium diseases of wheat. BMC Plant Biol 2011; 11:100. [PMID: 21639892 PMCID: PMC3123626 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2229-11-100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2011] [Accepted: 06/03/2011] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fusarium species cause Fusarium head blight (FHB) and other important diseases of cereals. The causal agents produce trichothecene mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON). The dicotyledonous model species Arabidopsis thaliana has been used to study Fusarium-host interactions but it is not ideal for model-to-crop translation. Brachypodium distachyon (Bd) has been proposed as a new monocotyledonous model species for functional genomic studies in grass species. This study aims to assess the interaction between the most prevalent FHB-causing Fusarium species and Bd in order to develop and exploit Bd as a genetic model for FHB and other Fusarium diseases of wheat. RESULTS The ability of Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum to infect a range of Bd tissues was examined in various bioassays which showed that both species can infect all Bd tissues examined, including intact foliar tissues. DON accumulated in infected spike tissues at levels similar to those of infected wheat spikes. Histological studies revealed details of infection, colonisation and host response and indicate that hair cells are important sites of infection. Susceptibility to Fusarium and DON was assessed in two Bd ecotypes and revealed variation in resistance between ecotypes. CONCLUSIONS Bd exhibits characteristics of susceptibility highly similar to those of wheat, including susceptibility to spread of disease in the spikelets. Bd is the first reported plant species to allow successful infection on intact foliar tissues by FHB-causing Fusarium species. DON appears to function as a virulence factor in Bd as it does in wheat. Bd is proposed as a valuable model for undertaking studies of Fusarium head blight and other Fusarium diseases of wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Peraldi
- Department of Disease and Stress Biology, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Giovanni Beccari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, Facoltà di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, Perugia, 06121, Italy
| | - Andrew Steed
- Department of Disease and Stress Biology, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Paul Nicholson
- Department of Disease and Stress Biology, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
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Abstract
The recent changes of the European Common Agricultural Policy and the market needs of oleaginous crops for energy purposes caused a renewed increase of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivation in Italy. During 2006, surveys on approximately 92 ha of Umbrian (central Italy) sunflower fields were carried out for monitoring distribution and race variability of the pathogen. Twelve fields planted with commercial hybrids were surveyed. Downy mildew was only observed in five fields, with 2 to 3% of disease incidence. Systemic mildewed plants showed stunting, leaf chlorosis, and sporulation on the underside of leaf surface. Pathogen inocula were directly recovered from infected leaves by brushing the fungal structures or after infected leaves were incubated in a humid chamber at 18 to 20°C in the dark for 24 to 48 h. After increasing initial inocula on the suscpetible cv. Ala, race identification of four isolates was determined by the reaction of three standard sets of nine differential sunflower lines using a triplet code (3). Thirty to forty pregerminated seeds for each differential line (three replicates per line) were inoculated by the whole-seedling immersion technique (1). After 12 days, plants were maintained at 20°C and 100% relative humidity for 24 to 48 h to enhance pathogen sporulation and evaluate for susceptible (sporulation on cotyledons and/or first true leaves) or resistance (absence of sporulation or weak sporulation only on cotyledons) reactions. Inoculation tests were performed twice. The isolates were also evaluated for their sensitivity to metalaxyl-M (Apron XL 31.8%) used at the Italian registered rate (1.05 g of a.i. per kg of seed). Treated and untreated seeds of cv. Ala (50 seeds per pot with three replicates) were sown into pots filled with a sterilized sandy-loam mixture (1:1, vol/vol). Five days after sowing, soil drench inoculation was performed by spreading over the pots (80 ml per pot) a zoosporangia suspension (1 to 2 × 104 zoosporangia per ml) of each isolate. Disease incidence (DI) was determined by counting the number of uninfected and infected plants (sporulation on cotyledons and/or true leaves). Hypocotyls of plants that seemed uninfected were cut into sections (2 to 3 cm long) and placed in a humid chamber to allow pathogen sporulation. The experiments were performed twice. Three isolates were characterized as race 700 and one as a mixture of races 700 and 704. Race 700 is more widespread in Italy, whereas race 704 was reported in France in 2002 (2). All Plasmopara helianthi isolates produced 84 to 89% infection on plants from untreated seeds, whereas DI from fungicide treated seeds was significantly lower (8 to 17%). To our knowledge, this is the first report of race 704 in Italy. All field isolates were also metalaxyl-M sensitive as already reported in other European countries (4). References: (1) T. J. Gulya et al. Helia 14:11, 1991. (2) E. Mestries. Oleoscope 83:13, 2005. (3) M. L. Molinero et al. Plant Dis. 86:736, 2002. (4) M. L. Molinero et al. Plant Dis. 87:749, 2003.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Tosi
- Department of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - G Beccari
- Department of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
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Signorelli C, Rondonotti E, Villa F, Abbiati C, Beccari G, Avesani EC, Vecchi M, de Franchis R. Use of the Given Patency System for the screening of patients at high risk for capsule retention. Dig Liver Dis 2006; 38:326-30. [PMID: 16527556 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2006.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2005] [Revised: 01/13/2006] [Accepted: 01/18/2006] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Capsule enteroscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic tool for the study of the small bowel. Due to the risk of capsule retention, capsule enteroscopy is contraindicated in patients with suspected small bowel strictures. The Given Patency Capsule is a disintegration time-controlled capsule developed to identify patients with strictures that may cause capsule enteroscopy retention. The presence of the patency capsule within the patient's body can be detected by a radio-frequency scanner. AIM OF THE STUDY To evaluate safety and usefulness of the patency capsule in preventing capsule retention in patients at high risk. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-two patients were studied. Indications for patency capsule were: (A) Crohn's disease (18), (B) previous intestinal surgery (7), (C) previous obstruction (1), A+B (3), A+C (1), B+C (2). Patients were evaluated with the scanner at 72 h from ingestion. RESULTS At 72 h, 24 patients had already excreted the intact capsule in the stool. Of these, two experienced abdominal pain during capsule passage. In the other eight patients, the scanner detected the presence of the patency capsule. Four of them excreted the capsule intact in the stool after 72-96 h, the remaining four never found the capsule in the stool. The 26 patients who excreted the patency capsule intact without experiencing abdominal pain were deemed eligible for the capsule enteroscopy procedure, which was performed uneventfully in the 25 who agreed to undergo the examination. CONCLUSIONS The patency capsule is useful to identify, among patients at high risk, those who can be submitted to capsule enteroscopy without risks of capsule retention.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Signorelli
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Service Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli and Regina Elena Foundation, University of Milan, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy
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Signorelli C, Villa F, Rondonotti E, Abbiati C, Beccari G, de Franchis R. Sensitivity and specificity of the suspected blood identification system in video capsule enteroscopy. Endoscopy 2005; 37:1170-3. [PMID: 16329012 DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-870410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS Capsule enteroscopy has become a standard tool for the evaluation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Reviewing the video recordings of capsule examinations is time-consuming and requires prolonged attention. Recently, software that can recognize the frames containing "red spots", the Suspected Blood Identification system (SBIS), has been developed with the aim of assisting in the analysis of video recordings. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the SBIS in patients undergoing capsule enteroscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS 100 consecutive patients underwent capsule enteroscopy at our tertiary referral center, for the following indications: obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (75 patients), metastatic carcinoid (7 patients) known or suspected Crohn's disease (5 patients), miscellaneous (13 patients). Capsule endoscopy was carried out by the standard method. Four gastroenterologists, experienced in capsule endoscopy, reviewed the recordings. RESULTS Small-bowel visualization was obtained in 95 cases. The physicians identified 209 "red spots", 54 of which (25.8%) were also identified by the SBIS. The overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the SBIS, calculated on the number of true-positive, true-negative, false-positive and false-negative results, were 40.9%, 70.7%, 69.2% and 42.6%, respectively. Sensitivity was higher for the identification of red blood (60.9%) than for nonbleeding "red" lesions such as arteriovenous malformations (25.8%). CONCLUSIONS The SBIS has low sensitivity and specificity. It can be used as a complementary and rapid screening tool, but complete review of the recordings is still necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Signorelli
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Milan, Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Service, IRCCS Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Enteroscopy plays a key role in the post-operative monitoring of patients with small bowel transplantation for the early detection of post-transplant complications and for the assessment of the graft's integrity. Routine surveillance enteroscopies (trans-stomal terminal ileoscopy or jejunoscopy) are invasive, may be unsafe in frail patients, and only allow incomplete exploration of the transplanted graft, which may be unsatisfactory. since the distribution of the lesions is often patchy or segmental. AIMS. To evaluate the potential of capsule enteroscopy, a new, minimally invasive technique which allows complete exploration of the small bowel. in small bowel transplant recipients. METHODS Five small bowel transplanted patients underwent capsule enteroscopy with the GIVEN endoscopy system. The results of capsule enteroscopy were compared with those of trans-stomal ileoscopy. RESULTS Capsule enteroscopy was better tolerated than ileoscopy and good quality images of the small bowel were obtained in four patients. The terminal ileum was normal both on ileoscopy and capsule enteroscopy. Mucosal changes in segments not reached by ileoscopy were detected by capsule enteroscopy in three of four patients. CONCLUSIONS Capsule enteroscopy is better tolerated than ileoscopy, allows complete exploration of the transplanted graft and can detect mucosal changes in segments not reached by ileoscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- R de Franchis
- Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Service, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Milan, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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de Franchis R, Avesani EMC, Abbiati C, Rondonotti E, Zatelli S, Beccari G, Primignani M, Gatti M, Cappelletti M, Carnevali A, Gazzanoe G, Vecchi M. Unsuspected ileal stenosis causing obscure GI bleeding in patients with previous abdominal surgery--diagnosis by capsule endoscopy: a report of two cases. Dig Liver Dis 2003; 35:577-84. [PMID: 14567463 DOI: 10.1016/s1590-8658(03)00279-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Peri-anastomotic ulcerations may occur in patients with previous abdominal surgery. They may present only with obscure GI bleeding. We report two cases in whom capsule endoscopy identified postsurgical stenoses with ulcers as the cause of obscure GI bleeding. Case 1. A 57-year-old male operated on in 1970 for a post-traumatic diaphragm hernia followed by displacement of the caecum in the upper left abdominal quadrant. Case 2. A 32-year-old female with a salpingectomy for tuberculosis (1978) followed by segmental ileal resection for intestinal obstruction. Both patients had undergone extensive work-up including bidirectional endoscopies and enteroclysis with negative results. Capsule endoscopy with the GIVEN diagnostic system was done. Ileal stenoses with mucosal ulcers in dilated prestenotic loops were observed in both cases. The capsule was retained at the stenosis site, requiring ileal resection and anastomosis. Pathology reports showed mucosal ulcers. In case 2, tuberculosis was ruled out by tissue and faecal polymerase chain reaction and culture. Ileal stenoses with prestenotic ulcerations causing GI bleeding may occur in patients with previous abdominal surgery. Capsule endoscopy may clarify the diagnosis and shorten the diagnostic work-up. However, these patients should be warned that capsule retention requiring surgery might occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- R de Franchis
- Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Service, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Milan, IRCCS Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy.
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Meucci G, Tatarella M, Vecchi M, Ranzi ML, Biguzzi E, Beccari G, Clerici E, de Franchis R. High prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with colonic adenomas and carcinomas. J Clin Gastroenterol 1997; 25:605-7. [PMID: 9451672 DOI: 10.1097/00004836-199712000-00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In some uncontrolled studies, a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection unexpectedly has been found in patients with colorectal cancer. The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with colonic polyps or cancer. We reviewed 50 consecutive patients with either colonic adenomas or cancer who entered a preliminary case-control study. For each patient, 2 age- and gender-matched control subjects were selected (72 males; mean age, 63.1 years). A further 44 consecutive patients (30 with polyps and 14 with cancer) subsequently were enrolled. The H. pylori prevalence in patients with either polyps or cancer was compared with that in control subjects. Anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G antibodies were assayed by an immunoenzymatic method. The prevalence of H. pylori antibodies was 49 (49%) of 100 in control subjects, 40 (71.4%) of 56 in patients with polyps (p < 0.006 vs. control subjects), and 21 (55%) of 38 in patients with cancer (not significant). Among patients with colorectal cancer, H. pylori prevalence was 9 (69.2%) of 13 for patients evaluated at the time of diagnosis and 12 (48%) of 25 for patients evaluated 1 to 9 years after surgery. We conclude that colonic neoplastic lesions, especially adenomas, are associated with an increased prevalence of H. pylori infection. The mechanisms underlying this association need to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Meucci
- Istituto di Medicina Interna, Universita' di Milano, Italy
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38
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Peca G, Rafanelli S, Galassi G, Di Bartolo P, Bertini S, Alberani M, Beccari G. Contact reactions to the jellyfish Carybdea marsupialis: observation of 40 cases. Contact Dermatitis 1997; 36:124-6. [PMID: 9145259 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1997.tb00392.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- G Peca
- Casualty and Emergency Department, S. Giorgio Hospital, Cervia (Ravenna), Italy
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39
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Beccari G. [Multiple myeloma and retroperitoneal fibrosis]. Minerva Med 1989; 80:79-80. [PMID: 2915817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- G Beccari
- U.S.L. n. 35, Ospedale S. Maria delle Croci, Ravenna
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40
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Beccari G, Molinari AL, Stracciari A, Parollo R. [Laryngospasm and hiatal hernia]. Minerva Med 1988; 79:152. [PMID: 3352948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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41
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Stracciari A, Oiucci G, Bianchedi G, Beccari G. Computed tomographic evidence of cerebral focal ischemic lesion in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Arch Neurol 1987; 44:996. [PMID: 3632386 DOI: 10.1001/archneur.1987.00520220006003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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42
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Beccari G, Cicognani P, Piscaglia G. [Syncope]. Minerva Med 1987; 78:557. [PMID: 3574743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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43
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Beccari G, Cicognani P, Bianchedi G, Ciucci G. [Hypocalcemia and muscular exhaustibility]. Minerva Med 1986; 77:2191. [PMID: 3796876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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44
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Beccari G, Piscaglia MG, Cavallini B, Minuzzo I. [Precordial pain and cardiac amyloidosis]. Minerva Cardioangiol 1986; 34:681-2. [PMID: 3808336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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45
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Beccari G. [Chronic vitamin A poisoning]. Minerva Med 1986; 77:1327. [PMID: 3725157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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46
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Orzincolo C, Scutellari PN, Bariani L, Pinca A, Beccari G, Castaldi G. [Aseptic necrosis of the head of the femur in Cooley's disease]. Radiol Med 1986; 72:102-4. [PMID: 3704210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of aseptic necrosis of femoral head in homozygous beta-thalassaemia (Cooley's anaemia)--which is indeed significantly high--is not satisfactorily referred in late literature regarding haemolytic syndromes. Therefore, 4 cases of osteonecrosis of femoral head, recently recognized in a series of 280 patients affected by Cooley's anaemia (14.5 0/00) are presented, and a review of hypotheses about the pathogenesis of the lesions is considered. In Cooley's anaemia, the skeletal lesion (osteoporosis) must be believed as a propitious state, in which some other pathogenetic events (i.e. local ischemia, bony age, etc.) and microtraumas overlap. In any case, characteristic blood circulation of the femoral head is the "conditio sine qua non" in developing osteonecrosis.
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47
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Cavallini B, Beccari G, Piancastelli M, Spinolo L. [Amiodarone-induced polyneuritis]. Minerva Cardioangiol 1985; 33:367-8. [PMID: 4047426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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48
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Beccari G. [Bromocryptin]. Minerva Med 1983; 74:563-4. [PMID: 6835547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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49
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Beccari G, Del Noce A, Grossi E. [Hypocalcemia during cimetidine and carbenoxolone treatment]. Minerva Med 1982; 73:1903. [PMID: 7088404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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