Toxigenic potential of Fusarium graminearum isolated from maize of northwest Argentina

SAMPIETRO, D. A.; APUD, G. R.; BELIZAN, M. M. E.; VATTUONE, M.A.; CATALAN, C. A. N.

BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY

SOC BRASILEIRA MICROBIOLOGIA

Lugar: Sao Paulo; Año: 2013 vol. 44 p. 417 - 422

1517-8382

Twenty six isolates of Fusarium graminearum from grains of maize hybrids harvested in northwest Argentina were grown on autoclaved rice grain to assess their ability to produce type B trichothecenes. Chemical analysis indicated that 38% of isolates were nivalenol (NIV) producers only, 31% were major NIV producers with high DON(deoxynivalenol)/NIV ratios, 8% were major DON producers with minor NIV production, and 23% were DON producers only. Isolates showed a high variability in their toxigenic potential which was not related to fungal biomass. The distribution of the different chemotypes as well as the high and the low trichothecene-producing Fusarium isolates could not be associated to a geographical origin. Our results confirmed for the first time that isolates of Fusarium graminearum from maize of northwest Argentina are able to produce DON and NIV. A substancial contamination with both NIV and DON is likely in maize from northwest Argentina. Their contents should be quantified in regional surveillances for mycotoxin contamination.