Contamination of wheat grain by Fusarium mycotoxins is a global food problem. In this study, the capabilities of several Fusarium poae and Fusarium avenaceum strains to produce mycotoxins under in vitro controlled laboratory conditions were tested. The analyzed strains had been previously isolated from 74 durum wheat grain samples harvested in 2013 in central Italy. DNA from Fusarium spp. cultures were extracted and specific primers were used for the identification of both Fusarium species and detected by PCR assay. In order to determine the ability to biosynthesize beauvericin (BEA) and enniatins (ENs) A, A1, B and B1, the strains were grown on rice cultures for four weeks. Mycotoxin analysis was performed by liquid extraction method of Van Asselt et al. (2012). Identification of BEA and ENs was obtained by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. BEA was highly biosynthesized by all F. poae strains, while only a very low percentage of F. avenaceum strains were able to produce small amounts of this mycotoxin. Some F. poae strains also produced low amounts of ENB. All F. avenaceum strains biosynthesized high amounts of enniatins and, according to average values, the production rate was ENB > ENB1 > ENA1 > ENA. Great differences were observed in the production of BEA and ENs within F. poae and F. avenaceum populations. This study confirms that, amongst Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) causal agents, F. poae could be regarded as the main responsible for BEA wheat grain contaminations, while F. avenaceum could be indicated as the main responsible for ENs contaminations.
In vitro biosynthesis of beauvericin and enniatins by Fusarium avenaceum and Fusarium poae strains isolated from Italian durum wheat grains
BECCARI, GIOVANNI;COVARELLI, Lorenzo;
2015
Abstract
Contamination of wheat grain by Fusarium mycotoxins is a global food problem. In this study, the capabilities of several Fusarium poae and Fusarium avenaceum strains to produce mycotoxins under in vitro controlled laboratory conditions were tested. The analyzed strains had been previously isolated from 74 durum wheat grain samples harvested in 2013 in central Italy. DNA from Fusarium spp. cultures were extracted and specific primers were used for the identification of both Fusarium species and detected by PCR assay. In order to determine the ability to biosynthesize beauvericin (BEA) and enniatins (ENs) A, A1, B and B1, the strains were grown on rice cultures for four weeks. Mycotoxin analysis was performed by liquid extraction method of Van Asselt et al. (2012). Identification of BEA and ENs was obtained by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. BEA was highly biosynthesized by all F. poae strains, while only a very low percentage of F. avenaceum strains were able to produce small amounts of this mycotoxin. Some F. poae strains also produced low amounts of ENB. All F. avenaceum strains biosynthesized high amounts of enniatins and, according to average values, the production rate was ENB > ENB1 > ENA1 > ENA. Great differences were observed in the production of BEA and ENs within F. poae and F. avenaceum populations. This study confirms that, amongst Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) causal agents, F. poae could be regarded as the main responsible for BEA wheat grain contaminations, while F. avenaceum could be indicated as the main responsible for ENs contaminations.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
