Fusarium species, their taxonomy, variability and significance in plant pathology – a review

M. Zemánková; A. Lebeda

doi:10.17221/8364-pps

Fusarium species, their taxonomy, variability and significance in plant pathology – a review

Plant Protection Science ◽

10.17221/8364-pps ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 37 (No. 1) ◽

pp. 25-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

M. Zemánková ◽

A. Lebeda

Keyword(s):

Plant Pathology ◽

Vascular Plants ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Classification Systems ◽

Fusarium Spp ◽

Genus Fusarium ◽

Worldwide Distribution ◽

Wide Range ◽

Wide Variability ◽

Recent Classification

Fusarium Link (1809) is an anamorph genus with worldwide distribution and a remarkable degree of biodiversity. Its species are common in soil and have been found on a very wide range of vascular plants. Some specialized species are parasitic on other fungi and or insects. In the system of fungi the genus Fusarium is classified in the class Hyphomycetes which belongs to the Deuteromycotina. Teleomorphs have been placed in the genera Nectria and Gibberella, order Hypocreales (Ascomycetes). The taxonomy of the genus Fusarium is not settled and the number of species and sections varies. A few recent classification systems of this genus exist. Fusarium spp. have mostly been studied in the context of their ability to cause diseases of many economically important crop plants. Some species produce mycotoxins and other metabolites that can be harmful to humans and livestock. There is a wide variability in pathogenicity, and in many Fusarium spp. various formae speciales (f.sp.) and physiological races are known. In this paper a description of the 14 most important soil and plant pathogenic Fusarium spp. is provided.

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Mycotoxin Production in Fusarium According to Contemporary Species Concepts

Annual Review of Phytopathology ◽

10.1146/annurev-phyto-020620-102825 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gary P. Munkvold ◽

Robert H. Proctor ◽

Antonio Moretti

Keyword(s):

Fusarium Species ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Species Concepts ◽

Classification Systems ◽

Individual Species ◽

Annual Review ◽

Publication Date ◽

Mycotoxin Production ◽

Depth Of Knowledge ◽

Genus Fusarium

Fusarium is one of the most important genera of plant-pathogenic fungi in the world and arguably the world's most important mycotoxin-producing genus. Fusarium species produce a staggering array of toxic metabolites that contribute to plant disease and mycotoxicoses in humans and other animals. A thorough understanding of the mycotoxin potential of individual species is crucial for assessing the toxicological risks associated with Fusarium diseases. There are thousands of reports of mycotoxin production by various species, and there have been numerous attempts to summarize them. These efforts have been complicated by competing classification systems based on morphology, sexual compatibility, and phylogenetic relationships. The current depth of knowledge of Fusarium genomes and mycotoxin biosynthetic pathways provides insights into how mycotoxin production is distributed among species and multispecies lineages (species complexes) in the genus as well as opportunities to clarify and predict mycotoxin risks connected with known and newly described species. Here, we summarize mycotoxin production in the genus Fusarium and how mycotoxin risk aligns with current phylogenetic species concepts. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Phytopathology, Volume 59 is August 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

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One Fungus, One Name: Defining the Genus Fusarium in a Scientifically Robust Way That Preserves Longstanding Use

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto-07-12-0150-le ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 103 (5) ◽

pp. 400-408 ◽

Cited By ~ 115

Author(s):

David M. Geiser ◽

Takayuki Aoki ◽

Charles W. Bacon ◽

Scott E. Baker ◽

Madan K. Bhattacharyya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Pathology ◽

Species Complex ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Basic Research ◽

International Code ◽

Genus Fusarium ◽

Code Of Nomenclature ◽

Scientific Principles ◽

One Fungus One Name ◽

International Code Of Nomenclature

In this letter, we advocate recognizing the genus Fusarium as the sole name for a group that includes virtually all Fusarium species of importance in plant pathology, mycotoxicology, medicine, and basic research. This phylogenetically guided circumscription will free scientists from any obligation to use other genus names, including teleomorphs, for species nested within this clade, and preserve the application of the name Fusarium in the way it has been used for almost a century. Due to recent changes in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, this is an urgent matter that requires community attention. The alternative is to break the longstanding concept of Fusarium into nine or more genera, and remove important taxa such as those in the F. solani species complex from the genus, a move we believe is unnecessary. Here we present taxonomic and nomenclatural proposals that will preserve established research connections and facilitate communication within and between research communities, and at the same time support strong scientific principles and good taxonomic practice.

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THE EFFECT OF SOIL MOISTURE ON FUSARIUM SPECIES

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b53-050 ◽

1953 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 693-697 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

R. H. Stover

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Optimum Growth ◽

Fusarium Spp ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

Genus Fusarium ◽

Saturated Condition ◽

Soil Saturation

Six species and forms of the genus Fusarium show optimum growth and survival in soil at 15% saturation. Optimum soil moisture content for actinomycete growth and survival is similar to that for the Fusarium species whereas that for bacteria is at 75% soil saturation. The present studies indicate that Fusarium spp. are strongly aerobic and that Fusarium populations can be greatly reduced by maintaining the soil in a saturated condition in the absence of hosts.

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Survey of Fumonisin Production by Fusarium Isolated from Cereals in Europe

Journal of AOAC International ◽

10.1093/jaoac/77.2.546 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 546-550 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Angelo Visconti ◽

M Bruno Doko

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Mixed Feed ◽

Fusarium Spp ◽

Wide Range ◽

The One ◽

Fumonisins B1 And B2

Abstract Strains of Fusarium isolated from corn, sorghum, wheat, barley, and mixed feed from Italy, Spain, Poland, and France were tested for the production of fumonisins B1 and B2 (FB1 and FB2) in corn cultures. All strains of F. moniliforme (1 from France, 10 from Italy, 15 from Poland, and 17 from Spain) and the one tested strain of F. proliferatum produced fumonisins in amounts scattered within a wide range of concentrations (0.7–4100 μg FB1/g). None or insignificant amounts of FB1 were detected in cultures of 11 F. subglutinans strains (<0.5 μg/g for 5 of 11 strains) or in cultures of 3 strains of Fusarium spp. not belonging to Liseola. FB2 was produced by all but one of the strains that produced FB1, and the FB2/FB1 ratio ranged from 0.1 to 0.37 (average, 0.22). The highest production of fumonisin was obtained with isolates from corn (average, 1259 μg FB1/g), followed by isolates from wheat (average, 769 μg FB1/g) and barley (average, 320 μg FB1/g). The production of fumonisins by isolates from sorghum was 2 orders of magnitude lower than corn. These results support data reported for similar surveys in geographical areas other than Europe. In particular, data indicate a situation in Europe that is very similar to North America in respect to fumonisin production by different Fusarium species (F. moniliforme and F. subglutinans) isolated from different substrates (corn and sorghum).

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Structure and Abundance of Fusarium Communities Inhabiting the Litter of Beech Forests in Central Europe

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12060811 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 811

Author(s):

Hanna Stępniewska ◽

Robert Jankowiak ◽

Piotr Bilański ◽

Georg Hausner

Keyword(s):

Forest Type ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Plant Diseases ◽

Fusarium Spp ◽

Old Growth ◽

Sequence Comparisons ◽

Genus Fusarium ◽

Species Complexes ◽

Beech Stand

Members of the genus Fusarium and related genera are important components of many ecosystems worldwide and are responsible for many plant diseases. However, the structure of beech litter-inhabiting Fusarium communities and their potential role in reducing the natural regeneration of European beech are not well understood. To address this issue, we examined Fusarium communities in the litter of uneven-aged, old-growth beech-dominated forests in the Carpathians (Poland) and in the Alps (Austria), and in a managed beech stand (Poland). The fungi inhabiting beech litter were investigated using beechnuts and pine seedlings as bait. The pathogenicity of the most common species was investigated by inoculating beech germinants. Fusarium spp. were identified based on morphology and DNA sequence comparisons of RPB2 and TEF1-α genes, combined with phylogenetic analyses. Twelve fungal species were identified from 402 isolates, including nine known and three currently undescribed species. The isolates resided in three species complexes within the genus Fusarium. These were the F. oxysporum (one taxon), F. sambucinum (three taxa), and F. tricinctum (six taxa) species complexes. In addition, one isolate was assigned to the genus Neocosmospora, and one isolate could be placed within the genus Fusicolla. The most frequently isolated fungi from beechnuts and beech germinants were F. avenaceum (Fr.) Sacc., F. sporotrichioides Sherb. and Fusarium sp. B. The structure and abundance of species within Fusarium communities varied by beech forest type. The species richness of Fusarium spp. was greatest in old-growth beech-dominated stands, while abundances of Fusarium spp. were higher in managed beech-dominated stands. Pathogenicity tests showed that all four Fusarium species isolated from beechnuts and beech germinants could cause germinants to rot beech, suggesting that these fungi may play a negative role in the natural beech regeneration.

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Frequency of toxigenic Fusarium species and fusariotoxins in wheat grain in Serbia

Zbornik Matice srpske za prirodne nauke ◽

10.2298/zmspn0713093s ◽

2007 ◽

pp. 93-102 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Slavica Stankovic ◽

Jelena Levic ◽

Vesna Krnjaja ◽

Aleksandra Bocarov-Stancic ◽

Sonja Tancic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fusarium Species ◽

Natural Occurrence ◽

Wheat Grain ◽

Fusarium Spp ◽

Genus Fusarium

A total of 88 and 40 wheat samples collected immediately prior to harvest in 2005 and 2006, respectively, under different agroecological conditions, were studied in respect to the occurrence of Fusarium spp. and the production of fusariotoxins. The greatest number of samples was infected with species of the genera Fusarium (81.8 and 65.0%), and Alternaria (36.3 and 17.5%) with the intensity ranging from 9.4 to 84.0% in 2005 and from 23.4 to 80.6% in 2006. Out of 13 identified species belonging to the genus Fusarium, F. graminearum had the highest frequency (35.2 and 12.5%) and the intensity up to 67.2%, and 21.9%, in 2005 and 2006, respectively, followed by F. poae but only in 2005 (20.4%), and F. proliferatum in 2006 (19.7%). The natural occurrence of mycotoxins in positive samples varied from 37 to 331 ppb for zearalenone and from 31 to 125 ppb for diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) and T-2 toxin. The concentration of mycotoxins amounted, on average, to 133.4, 61.0 and 45.7 ppb for zearelenone, DAS and T-2 toxin, respectively.

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Natural toxigenic fungal and mycotoxin occurrence in maize hybrids

Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry ◽

10.2298/bah2001075k ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 75-85

Author(s):

Vesna Krnjaja ◽

Violeta Mandic ◽

Zorica Bijelic ◽

Milos Lukic ◽

Tanja Petrovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Natural Occurrence ◽

The European Union ◽

Fusarium Spp ◽

Maize Hybrids ◽

Genus Fusarium ◽

Permissible Levels ◽

The Republic

The objective of the present study was to investigate the susceptibility of maize hybrids to the natural occurrence of toxigenic fungal species, in particular toxigenic Aspergillus and Fusarium species, and mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and total fumonisins B1, B2 and B3 (FBs)). Grain samples of six commercial maize hybrids (MAS 34.B - FAO 300, MAS 40.F, MAS 48.L, KWS Konfites and ZP 427 - FAO 400, and MAS 56.A - FAO 500) were collected at harvest in 2018. A total of seven fungal genera, Acremonium, Alternaria, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Nigrospora, Penicillium and Rhizopus, were identified of which only species from the genus Fusarium were present on maize grains of all hybrids tested. The incidence of Fusarium spp. was higher in the hybrids MAS 48.L (54.6%), and MAS 56.A (53.3%), compared to MAS 40.F (37.3%), KWS Konfites (28%), MAS 34.B (22.6%) and ZP 427 (12%) hybrids. Among the identified Fusarium species (F. graminearum, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans and F. verticillioides), F. proliferatum was present in all hybrids, ranging from 9.3% (ZP 427) to 30.7% (MAS 48.L ), whereas F. subglutinans was present in two hybrids, MAS 40.F (16%) and MAS 56.A (9.3%). The incidence of F. graminearum ranged from 0% (KWS Konfites) to 9.3% (MAS 34.B), while the incidence of F. verticillioides ranged from 0% (MAS 34.B and ZP 427) to 21.3% (MAS 48.L). In the samples, Aspergillus species were not identified. The effect of maize hybrids was significant on the level of mycotoxins. MAS 34.B hybrid had a statistically significantly higher levels of AFB1 and DON than other hybrids. The FBs level was the highest in the hybrid MAS 34.B (1202 ?g kg-1) and the lowest in the hybrid KWS Konfites (88.33 ?g kg-1). However, the FBs level did not differ between hybrids MAS 34.B, MAS 40.F, and MAS 56.L, MAS 40.F, MAS 48.L, and MAS 56.A, and KWS Konfites and ZP 427. In all hybrids, AFB1, DON, and FBs levels were below the maximum permissible levels stipulated by the legislation of the European Union and the Republic of Serbia in unprocessed maize. The agro-ecological conditions in 2018 favored the development of Fusarium species on maize grains of the hybrids tested, especially fumonisin producing species.

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The presence of toxigenic Fusarium species and Fusariotoxins deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in winter wheat

Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry ◽

10.2298/bah1101063k ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 63-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

V. Krnjaja ◽

S. Stankovic ◽

J. Levic

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Wheat Grain ◽

Fusarium Spp ◽

Limit Values ◽

Genus Fusarium ◽

Positive Correlations ◽

Penicillium Spp ◽

Insignificant Correlation ◽

Isolated Species

The frequency of fungi and mycotoxin concentrations of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) were studied in winter wheat grains harvested in 2009. The most frequently isolated species belonged to genera Alternaria (81.55%) and Fusarium (12%), followed by Rhizopus spp. (3.75%), Acremoniella spp. (1.15%) and other fungi (Acremonium spp., Arthrinium spp., Aspergillus spp., Bipolaris spp., Chaetomium spp., Nigrospora spp., Penicillium spp. and Ramichloridium spp.) isolated in less than 1%. The following species of the genus Fusarium were identified: F. graminearum (82.50%), F. sporotrichioides (5.42%), F. proliferatum (4.17%), F. subglutinans (4.17%), F. poae (1.66%), F. semitectum (1.25%), and F. verticillioides (0.83%). In 100% of wheat grain samples DON was detected (110-1200 ?g kg-1, average 490 ?g kg-1), while ZON was detected in 10% of samples and in the lower average of 70 ?g kg-1 with the limit values ranging from 60 to 80 ?g kg-1. Statistically significant positive correlations were established between the concentration of ZON with the frequency of F. graminearum (r = 0.63) or with the frequency of Fusarium spp. (r = 0.58). A negative insignificant correlation was determined between the DON level and the percentage of present Fusarium species.

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The chromosome-scale genome resource for two endophytic Fusarium species: F. culmorum and F. pseudograminearum

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions ◽

10.1094/mpmi-07-20-0205-a ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaoliang Shan ◽

Ying Zhu ◽

Regina Redman ◽

Russell Rodriguez ◽

Zhilin Yuan

Keyword(s):

Single Molecule ◽

Plant Pathogens ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Sequencing Technology ◽

Functional Studies ◽

Genus Fusarium ◽

Wide Range ◽

Whole Genomes ◽

Long Read ◽

Leymus Mollis

The genus Fusarium (Ascomycota, Hypocreales, Nectriaceae) includes many economically important plant pathogens, which cause devastating diseases of a wide range of crops and trees. Interestingly, there is increasing evidence that some Fusarium species also live as endophytes and benefit plant growth and stress tolerance. In this work, we sequence the whole genomes of endophytic F. culmorum and F. pseudograminearum, isolated from a coastal dunegrass (Leymus mollis), using long-read SMRT (single-molecule real-time) sequencing technology (PacBio). Their genomes are assembled into four chromosomes and a mitochondrial genome with a total assembly size of 40.05 M and 42.90 M, respectively. This resource should not only facilitate the functional studies designed to better understand what makes the two Fusarium species such successful plant beneficial fungus, but also reveal their genome evolution and adaptation.

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