Influence of temperature on infection, growth, and mycotoxin production by Fusarium langsethiae and F. sporotrichioides in durum wheat

• Published in: Food microbiology Vol. 39; pp. 19 - 26
• Main Authors: Nazari, L., Pattori, E., Terzi, V., Morcia, C., Rossi, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; DNA; Food industries; Food microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fusarium; Fusarium - growth & development; Fusarium - metabolism; Infection; Mycotoxins; Mycotoxins - metabolism; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Species Specificity; Temperature; Triticum - microbiology; Type A trichothecenes; Wheat; Infection; Type A trichothecenes; Temperature; DNA; Mycotoxins; Fusarium; Wheat; Growth; Mycotoxin; Trichothecene; Fungi; Toxin; Durum wheat; Production; Fungi Imperfecti
• ISSN: 0740-0020; 1095-9998
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2013.10.009

Information concerning the temperature requirements of the species causing Fusarium head blight of small grains is essential for understanding which species cause the disease in different areas and years, for developing weather-driven disease models, and for predicting mycotoxin type and quantity in kernels. The optimal temperature range for growth was 20–25 °C for Fusarium langsethiae and 25–30 °C for F. sporotrichioides, and the optimum for production of both T-2 and HT-2 toxins was 15 °C for F. langsethiae and 10–15 °C for F. sporotrichioides. Floret infection occurred from 10 to 40 °C for F. sporotrichioides (69.8% average incidence of infected florets) and from 10 to 35 °C for F. langsethiae (17.6% of infected florets). The optimal temperature for spike colonisation was 25 °C for F. langsethiae and 30 °C for F. sporotrichioides, and the optimal temperature range for mycotoxin production was 15–35 °C for F. langsethiae and 20–25 °C for F. sporotrichioides. The quantity of fungal DNA in inoculated spikes was 5.5-times greater for F. sporotrichioides than for F. langsethiae; F. langsethiae DNA was first detected 2 days post-inoculation (dpi), and F. sporotrichioides DNA was first detected 4 dpi. Toxins were first detected 4 and 2 dpi for F. langsethiae and F. sporotrichioides, respectively.
•Knowledge of temperature requirements of fungi is useful for predicting mycotoxins.•Infection occurred 10–40 °C for F. sporotrichioides and 10–35 °C for F. langsethiae.•Optimum for spike colonisation was 30 and 25 °C for the two fungi, respectively.•Optimum for mycotoxins was 20–25 and 15–35 °C for the two fungi, respectively.•Toxins were detected 2 and 4 days post-infection for the two fungi, respectively.