• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.142-148
• /
• 2013

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench) was traditionally grown on a small scale, however, at present its cultivation is getting momentum in terms of food and animal feed crop throughtout the Korea. Grain mold symptoms of the plant were frequently observed during disease surveys in Korea from 2007 to 2009. The symptoms were highly variable. Severely infected grain was fully covered with mold and partially infected grain may look normal or discolored. Ninety isolates of Fusarium species were obtained from the diseased plants collected from several locations in the country. Among the collected Fusarium isolates, 41 were identified as Fusarium thapsinum, 23 as F. proliferatum, 12 as F. graminearum, 5 as F. incarnatum, and 3 as F. equiseti based on their morphological and cultural characteristics. Elongation factor 1 alpha gene sequences of the isolates were used for phylogenetic analysis. Analyses of the sequences revealed that the isolates were confirmed to be identical with related species of NCBI GenBank. Pathogenicity tests showed that three dominant species, F. thapsinum, F. proliferatum and F. graminearum were strongly virulent to grains of sorghum. This study is the first report of sorghum grain mold caused by Fusarium species in Korea.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.349-353
• /
• 2011

The ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum is an important plant pathogen responsible for Fusarium head blight in small grains and ear rot on maize. This fungus also produces the estrogenic metabolite, zearalenone (ZEA) that causes estrogenic disorders in humans and animals. Previously, we developed a conditional gene expression system for this fungus using a ZEA-inducible promoter (Pzear). In the present study, four other estrogenic compounds, including ${\beta}$-estradiol, estriol, estrone, and secoisolariciresinol, were screened as possible substitutes for ZEA in this system. Among them, ${\beta}$-estradiol was able to successfully induce the expression of a gene controlled by Pzear, while estrone was only able to partially induce its expression but the other two compounds were not effective. In combination, these results demonstrate that ${\beta}$-estradiol can replace ZEA in this conditional gene expression system, thereby eliminating the need to use the more expensive reagent, ZEA, and facilitating high-throughput functional analyses of F. graminearum in future studies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.967-974
• /
• 2016

Zearalenone (ZEA) is an estrogenic mycotoxin that is produced by several Fusarium species, including Fusarium graminearum. One of the ZEA biosynthetic genes, ZEB2, encodes two isoforms of Zeb2 by alternative transcription, forming an activator (Zeb2L-Zeb2L homooligomer) and an inhibitor (Zeb2L-Zeb2S heterodimer) that directly regulate the ZEA biosynthetic genes in F. graminearum. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling regulates secondary metabolic processes in several filamentous fungi. In this study, we investigated the effects of the PKA signaling pathway on ZEA biosynthesis. Through functional analyses of PKA catalytic and regulatory subunits (CPKs and PKR), we found that the PKA pathway negatively regulates ZEA production. Genetic and biochemical evidence further demonstrated that the PKA pathway specifically represses ZEB2L transcription and also takes part in posttranscriptional regulation of ZEB2L during ZEA production. Our findings reveal the intriguing mechanism that the PKA pathway regulates secondary metabolite production by reprograming alternative transcription.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.260-267
• /
• 2004

Fusarium spp. were isolated from the postharvest fruit rot of oriental melon fruits at commercial fruit markets in Korea during 2001 to 2003. The decayed fruits were covered with the fungal mycelia and eventually soft rotted. The disease started at the fruit stalk area, the calyx end of the fruit and skin of fruit. As the disease advanced, white to pinkish mycelia covered with the surface of decayed fruit. The cultural and morphological characteristic of Fusarium spp. were compared with descriptions of those reported previously, and identified as Fusarium equiseti, F. graminearum, F. moniliforme, F. proliferatum, F. sambucinum, and F. semitectum. Pathogenicity of the isolates was proved by artificial wound and unwound inoculation onto the healthy fruits. Two days after inoculation, aerial mycelia were noticed on the wound inocultion region of the fruit and developed soft rot symptoms. Although Fusarium spp. causing fruit rot disease in oriental melon have been reported in Korea, identification of the those species was not described. Therefore, this is the first report of Fusarium spp. causing postharvest fruit rot on oriental melon in Korea.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2016.05a
• /
• pp.33-33
• /
• 2016

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi. They can be present in where agricultural-based commodities are contaminated with toxigenic fungi. These mycotoxins cause various toxicoses in human and livestock when consumed. Small grains including corn, barley, rice or wheat are frequently contaminated with mycotoxins due to infection mainly by toxigenic Fusarium species and/or under environment favorable to fungal growth. One of the most well-known Fusarium toxin groups in cereals is trichothecenes consisting of many toxic compounds. Deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2 toxin, and various derivatives belong to this group. Zearalenone and fumonisin (FB) are also frequently produced by many species of the same genus. In order to monitor Korean cereals for contamination with Fusarium and other mycotoxigenic fungal species as well, barley, corn, maize, rice grains, and soybean were collected from fields at harvest or during storage for several years. The fungal colonies outgrown from the grain samples were identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Trichothecene chemotypes of Fusarium species or presence of FB biosynthetic gene were determined using respective diagnostic PCR to predict possible toxin production. Heavy grain contamination with fungi was detected in barley, rice and wheat. Predominant fungal genus of barley and wheat was Alternaria (up to 90%) while that of rice was Fusarium (~40%). Epicoccum also appeared frequently in barley, rice and wheat. While frequency of Fusarium species in barley and wheat was less than 20%, the genus mainly consisted of Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) which known to be head blight pathogen and mycotoxin producer. Fusarium composition of rice was more diverse as FGSC, Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC), and Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) appeared all at considerable frequencies. Prevalent fungal species of corn was FFSC (~50%), followed by FGSC (<30%). Most of FFSC isolates of corn tested appeared to be FB producer. In corn, Fusarium graminearum and DON chemotype dominate within FGSC, which was different from other cereals. Soybeans were contaminated with fungi less than other crops and Cercospora, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Fusarium etc. were detected at low frequencies (up to 14%). Other toxigenic species such as Aspergillus and Penicillium were irregularly detected at very low frequencies. Multi-year survey of small grains revealed dominant fungal species of Korea (barley, rice and wheat) is Fusarium asiaticum having NIV chemotype.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.321-327
• /
• 2010

We performed diagnostic PCR assays and a phylogenetic analysis using partial sequences of TEF1 (translation elongation factor-1) to determine the trichothecene chemotypes and genetic diversity of F. graminearum isolates from maize and rice samples collected in 2009 in Korea. PCR using a species-specific primer set revealed a total of 324 isolates belonging to the putative F. graminearum species complex. PCR with trichothecene chemotypespecific primers revealed that the nivalenol (NIV) chemotype was predominant among the fungal isolates from rice (95%) in all provinces examined. In contrast, the predominant chemotype among the corn isolates varied according to region. The deoxynivalenol (DON) chemotype was found more frequently (66%) than the NIV chemotype in Gangwon Province, whereas the NIV chemotype (70%) was predominant in Chungbuk Province. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all DON isolates examined were clustered into lineage 7, while the NIV isolates resided within lineage 6 (F. asiaticum). Compared with previous studies, the lineage 6 isolates in rice have been predominantly maintained in southern provinces, while the dominance of lineage 7 in maize has been evident in Gangwon at a slightly reduced level.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.227-230
• /
• 2015

The ascomycete fungus Fusarium fujikuroi causes bakanae disease in rice and this disease has been reemerging in Korea. Other fungal species including F. graminearum and Magnaporthe oryzae are often associated with F. fujikuroi, hampering pure isolation of F. fujikuroi from rice. In this study, we modified a selective medium for F. fujikuroi as supplementing both pentachloronitrobenzene and hydrogen peroxide into minimal medium. This medium efficiently suppressed the vegetative growth of F. graminearum and M. oryzae, but did not significantly reduce F. fujikuroi growth, providing an efficient tool for isolating F. fujikuroi.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.455-464
• /
• 2021

Forty-eight spring barley genotypes were evaluated for deoxynivalenol (DON) concentration under natural infection across 5 years at Harrington, Prince Edward Island. These genotypes were also evaluated for Fusarium head blight (FHB) severity and DON concentration under field nurseries with artificial inoculation of Fusarium graminearum by the grain spawn method across 2 years at Ottawa, Ontario, and one year at Hangzhou, China. Additionally, these genotypes were also evaluated for FHB severity under greenhouse conditions with artificial inoculation of F. graminearum by conidial suspension spray method across 3 years at Ottawa, Ontario. The objective of the study was to investigate if reactions of barley genotypes to artificial FHB inoculation correlate with reactions to natural FHB infection. DON concentration under natural infection was positively correlated with DON concentration (r = 0.47, P < 0.01) and FHB incidence (r = 0.56, P < 0.01) in the artificially inoculated nursery with grain spawn method. Therefore, the grain spawn method can be used to effectively screen for low DON. FHB severity, generated from greenhouse spray, however, was not correlated with DON concentration (r = 0.12, P > 0.05) under natural infection and it was not correlated with DON concentration (r = -0.23, P > 0.05) and FHB incidence (r = 0.19, P > 0.05) in the artificially inoculated nursery with grain spawn method. FHB severity, DON concentration, and yield were affected by year, genotype, and the genotype × year interaction. The effectiveness of greenhouse spray inoculation for indirect selection for low DON concentration requires further studies. Nine of the 48 genotypes were found to contain low DON under natural infection. Island barley had low DON and also had high yield.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2016.05a
• /
• pp.27-27
• /
• 2016

The ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum is the most common pathogen of Fusarium head blight (FHB), a devastating disease for major cereal crops worldwide. FHB causes significant crop losses by reducing grain yield and quality as well as contaminating cereals with trichothecenes and zearalenone (ZEA) that pose a serious threat to animal health and food safety. ZEA is a causative agent of hyperestrogenic syndrome in mammals and can result in reproductive disorders in farm animals. In F. graminearum, the ZEA biosynthetic cluster is composed of four genes, PKS4, PKS13, ZEB1, and ZEB2, which encode a reducing polyketide synthase, a nonreducing polyketide synthase, an isoamyl alcohol oxidase, and a transcription factor, respectively. Although it is known that ZEB2 primarily acts as a regulator of ZEA biosynthetic cluster genes, the mechanism underlying this regulation remains undetermined. In this study, two isoforms (ZEB2L and ZEB2S) from the ZEB2 gene in F. graminearum were characterized. It was revealed that ZEB2L contains a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) DNA-binding domain at the N-terminus, whereas ZEB2S is an N-terminally truncated form of ZEB2L that lacks the bZIP domain. Interestingly, ZEA triggered the induction of both ZEB2L and ZEB2S transcription. In ZEA producing condition, the expression of ZEB2S transcripts via alternative promoter usage was directly or indirectly initiated by ZEA. Physical interaction between ZEB2L and ZEB2L as well as between ZEB2L and ZEB2S was observed in the nucleus. The ZEB2S-ZEB2S interaction was detected in both the cytosol and the nucleus. ZEB2L-ZEB2L oligomers activated ZEA biosynthetic cluster genes, including ZEB2L. ZEB2S inhibited ZEB2L transcription by forming ZEB2L-ZEB2S heterodimers, which reduced the DNA-binding activity of ZEB2L. This study provides insight into the autoregulation of ZEB2 expression by alternative promoter usage and a feedback loop during ZEA production.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.117.3-118
• /
• 2003

We tested for the presence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) mycovirus in 827 Fusarium graminearum isolated from diseased barley and maize. dsRNA mycoviruses with various sizes were isolated. Of them, it was previously reported that dsRNA from DK2l isolate had pronounced morphological changes, including reduction in mycelial growth, increased to red pigmentation, reduced virulence and sporulation. (Chu et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2002). For better understanding of this hypovirulence associated with DK2l dsRNA virus, we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of dsRNA genome and named Fusarium hypovirus DK2l strain (Fhv-DK2l ). Genomic RNA of Fhv-DK2l was determined to be 6625 nucleotides in length excluding the poly (A) tail and contained three putative open reading frame. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and helicase domain were expected in ORF A, 54 to 4709 nucleotide position. ORE B, 4752 to 5216 nucleotide position, and ORF C, 5475 to 6578 nucleotide position, were predicted to encode 16.7kDa and 41.3kDa protein respectively each. We could not detect any conserved domains from these two proteins. Phylogenetic analysis showed Fhv-DK2l was related to Cryphonectria hypovirus 3. Ten additional isolates were found that were infected with dsRNA mycoviruses. These mycoviruses contain 2 to 4 different segments of dsRNAs with the size range of approximately 1.7 to 10-kbp in length. The presence of dsRNAs isolates did not affect colony morphology and were transmissible through conidia and ascospore with incidence of 30-100％. These results indicate that there is genomic diversity of dsRNA mycoviruses that infect F. graminearum isolates and that impact of virus infection on host's morphology and virulence is determined by the interaction between dsRNAs and the fungal host, not by the mere presence of the dsRNAs