Abstract Detail

Ecology/Pathology

Lofgren, Lotus A. [1], Lasin, Praphapan [2], Roelfs, Alan [3], Corby Kistler, H. [3].

Fusarium Inhabitants of Asymptomatic Wild Grasses.

Fusarium graminearum, the causative agent of Fusarium Head Blight on wheat and barley and Stock Rot of maize, produces a wide range of secondary metabolites including the mycotoxins nivalenol and deoxynivalenol.  The evolutionary history and ecology of Fusarium species outside of agricultural settings is largely unknown. Because F. graminearum is thought to have evolved in North America over the past 6 million years, grasses native to the United States grain belt likely have had a longer evolutionary history with F. graminearum than cultivated members of the Poaceae introduced to North America by more recent human activity. Culture based assays of Fusarium within native grass seed revealed the presence of multiple species of the fungus. Several species of native grasses appeared asymptomatic even though infected with Fusarium species capable of causing disease and producing mycotoxins.  It is currently unknown if Fusarium species infecting wild grasses produce similar mycotoxin profiles as they would when infecting agricultural plants.  By investigating the alternative ecological roles that Fusarium spp. may have in non-agricultural hosts, we hope to better understand host plant response to mycotoxin diversification.

1 - University of Minnesota, Plant Pathology, 495 Borlaug Hall , 1991 Upper Buford Circle , St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
2 - University of Minnesota , Plant Biological Sciences, 250 Biological Sciences, 1445 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul , MN, 55108, USA
3 - USDA , Cereal Disease Laboratory, 1551 Lindig Avenue, St. Paul , MN, 55108, USA

Keywords:
Fusarium
mycotoxins
secondary metabolites 
wild grasses .

Presentation Type: Offered Paper - Paper
Session: 11
Location: Room 103 AB/Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
Date: Tuesday, June 10th, 2014
Time: 10:30 AM
Number: 11001
Abstract ID:79
Candidate for Awards:None