Fusarium graminearum mycotoxins associated with grain mould of maize and sorghum in South Africa

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Date
2013-02
Authors
Mavhunga, Mudzuli
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: Maize and sorghum are important crops in South Africa, meeting the dietary needs of millions of people as well as the needs of the feed industry. Fungi within the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) have recently become the subject of importance locally. Maize kernels and sorghum grain were collected from the National Cultivar Trial over three and two seasons respectively. A total of 558 samples comprising of six maize and seven sorghum cultivars were collected from 34 and 22 localities, respectively. Although different conventional detection, isolation and identification methods were utilized, very low numbers of FGSC isolates could be obtained from the grain. Molecular identification was based on the translation elongation factor-1α (TEF1-α) and the ammonia ligase (URA) genes. F. boothii and F. graminearum s.s. were identified from maize kernels while F. acaciamearnsii, F. cortaderiae and F. meridionale where associated with sorghum. Results indicated host-specificity between members of the FGSC. Total genomic DNA was extracted from all milled kernel and grain samples and analysed for the presence or absence of FGSC DNA using TaqMan real-time PCR. F. graminearum s.l. DNA was detected and quantified in over 47% of the samples. These findings contradict previous reports that stated that this group of fungi is of minor importance. Reasons may be improved detection techniques as well as changes in agronomic practices, such as rotation of maize with wheat in South Africa, or to other shifts in environmental factors. DON and ZEA concentrations were quantified using CD-ELISA. In the absence of an ELISA test for NIV, a selected number of samples were used in LC-MS/MS based detection and DON, NIV and ZEA were quantified. Concentrations varied considerably and no correlation between the two techniques was found. Based on CD-ELISA, maize and sorghum contamination with DON and ZEA differed significantly between seasons, localities and in some instances cultivars. An analysis of variance across all three seasons showed significant crop by locality interactions. In maize, high levels of DON were detected in the 2007/08 season, in particular at Delmas, while during the same season ZEA contamination of maize was significantly higher at Bothaville. In sorghum, DON and ZEA contamination was highest during the 2008/09 season, although both toxins were detected in the preceding season. In both the 2007/08 and 2008/09 seasons, Cedara was the most conducive locality for grain contamination with both toxins. Trichothecene chemotyping was conducted using both simplex and multiplex PCR. All the F. boothii and F. graminearum s.s. isolates from maize were DON/15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) producers and F. acacia-mearnsii, F. cortaderiae and F. meridionale isolates from sorghum grain produced NIV. DON can act as a virulence factor in plant disease and is usually associated with greater pathogenicity on plants than NIV producers. On the other hand, NIV is believed to be more toxigenic to both humans and animals. Isolates of the 15- ADON chemotype are reportedly less toxic that those of the 3-ADON chemotype. The 3- ADON chemotype was not recorded in this study. However, more FGSC isolates need to be collected from South African cereal grains and evaluated for their mycotoxin potential to establish safety guidelines for end users of these products. The results of this study showed that levels of field infection of maize and sorghum grain by the FGSC are of significance. Future studies need to quantify the relationships between members of the FGSC and their tricthothecene and ZEA production in South African maize and sorghum production systems including the role of cultivar choice, weather, rotation, tillage and other practices with the aim of establishing intervention technologies.
Afrikaans: Mielies en sorghum is belangrike gewasse in Suid Afrika en die stapel voedsel van miljoene mense asook dierevoeding. Fungi binne die Fusarium graminearum spesies kompleks (FGSK) het in die afgelope jare, plaaslik, toenemend belangriker geword. Mielie pitte en sorghum graan is vanaf die Nasionale Kultivarproewe oor drie en twee seisoene onderskeidelik versamel. ‘n Totaal van 558 monsters van ses mielie en sewe sorghum kultivars is vanaf 30 en 21 lokalitiete onderskeidelik versamel. Alhowevel verskillende konvensionele waarnemings, isolasie en identifikasie metodes toegepas is, is baie lae getalle van die FGSK ge-isololeer. Molekulêre identifikasie was op die translering verlenging facktor (TEF1-α) en die ammonium ligasie (URA) gene baseer. F. boothii en F. graminearum s.s. is op mieliepitte waargeneem terwyl F. acacia-mearnsii, F. cortaderiae en F. meridionale met sorghum geassosieer was. Resultate het gasheer spesifisiteit tussen lede van die FGSK aangedui. Totalle genomiese DNA is van alle gemaalde monsters geëkstraeer en vir die teenwoordigheid van FGSK DNA geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van werkstyd PKR. F. graminearum s.l. DNA is waargeneem en gekwantifiseer in 47% van die monsters. Die bevindending is teenstrydig met voorige verslae wat die fungusgroep as van minimale belangrikheid beskou. Redes hiervoor kan wees a.g.v. die verbetering van analitiese metodes en verandering in agronomiese praktyke soos wisselbou met mielies en koring in Siud Afrika of verskywings in omgewings faktore. DON en ZEA konsentrasies is d.m.v. van CD-ELISA bepaal. In die afwesigheid van ‘n ELISA toets vir NIV is ‘n bepaalde aantal monsters ge-evalueer deur gebruik te maak van VC-MS/MS om die teenwoordigheid van DON, NIV en ZEA te bepaal en te kwantifiseer. Konsentrasies het aansienlik gevarieer en daar was geen korrelasie tussen die twee tegnieke nie. Op basis van CD-ELISA het kontaminasie van mielies en sorghum met DON en ZEA betekenis vol verskil tussen seisoen, lokalitieite en kultivars. Variansie analise oor die drie seisoene het betekenisvolle gewas X lokaliteit interaksies getoon. In mielies is hoë vlakke van DON in die 2007/08 season waargeneem, veral in Delmas, terwyl gedurende die selfde seisoen, ZEA vlakke in mielies betekenisvol hoër was op Bothaville. By sorghum was DON en ZEA vlakke die hooste gedurende die 2008/09 seisoen, alhowel albei toksiene in die vorige seisoen voorgekom het. In beide die 2007/08 en 2008/09 seisoene was Cedara die mees voordelige lokalitiet vir graan kontaminasie deur albei toksiene. Trichothesene chemotipering is uitgevoer deur van simpleks en multipleks PKR gebruik te maak. Al die F. boothii en F. graminearum s.s. isolate van mielies het DON/15- acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) geproduseer en F. acacia-mearnsii, F. cortaderiae en F. meridionale isolate van sorghum graan het NIV geproduseer. DON is ‘n virulensie faktor by plansiektes en is meer as NIV met plant patogenisiteit geassosieer. In teenstelling, word NIV beskou as meer toksigenies vir mens en diere. Isolate van die 15-ADON chemotipe is minder toksies as die van die 3-ADON chemotipe. Die 3-ADON chemotipe is nie in die huidige studie waargeneem nie. Meer FGSK isolate word benodig vanaf Suid Afrikanse grane vir evaluering van mikotoksiese potensial om veiligheids aanbvelings vir eingebruikers vas te stel. Die bevindinge van die heidige studie het getoon dat vlakke van veld besmetting van mielies en sorghum grane deur lede van die FGSK betekenisvol is. Toekomstige studies behoort die verhouding tussen lede van die FGSK en tricthothecene en ZEA voorkoms in Suid Afrikanse mielies en sorghum produksiesisteme aan te spreek. Die rol van kultivarkeuse, weer, wisselbou, grondbwerking en ander praktyke met die doel on beheerstratigië vas te stel moet ingesluit word.
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Dissertation (M.Sc. (Plant Sciences))--University of the Free State, 2013, Sorghum -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa, Grain -- Quality, Fungal diseases of plants, Fusarium diseases of plants -- South Africa
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