Antagonistic properties against Fusarium sporotrichioides and glycosylation of HT-2 and T-2 toxins by selected Trichoderma strains.

The present study assessed the ability of Trichoderma to combat F. sporotrichioides, focusing on their antagonistic properties. Tests showed that Trichoderma effectively inhibited F. sporotrichioides mycelial growth, particularly with T. atroviride strains. In co-cultures on rice grains, Trichoderma almost completely reduced the biosynthesis of T-2 and HT-2 toxins by Fusarium. T-2 toxin-α-glucoside (T-2-3α-G), HT-2 toxin-α-glucoside (HT-2-3α-G), and HT-2 toxin-ß-glucoside (HT-2-3ß-G) were observed in the common culture medium, while these substances were not present in the control medium. The study also revealed unique metabolites and varying metabolomic profiles in joint cultures of Trichoderma and Fusarium, suggesting complex interactions. This research offers insights into the processes of biocontrol by Trichoderma, highlighting its potential as a sustainable solution for managing cereal plant pathogens and ensuring food safety.

Trichoderma versus Fusarium-Inhibition of Pathogen Growth and Mycotoxin Biosynthesis.

This study evaluated the ability of selected strains of Trichoderma viride, T. viridescens, and T. atroviride to inhibit mycelium growth and the biosynthesis of mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), zearalenone (ZEN), α-(α-ZOL) and ß-zearalenol (ß-ZOL) by selected strains of Fusarium culmorum and F. cerealis. For this purpose, an in vitro experiment was carried out on solid substrates (PDA and rice). After 5 days of co-culture, it was found that all Trichoderma strains used in the experiment significantly inhibited the growth of Fusarium mycelium. Qualitative assessment of pathogen-antagonist interactions showed that Trichoderma colonized 75% to 100% of the medium surface (depending on the species and strain of the antagonist and the pathogen) and was also able to grow over the mycelium of the pathogen and sporulate. The rate of inhibition of Fusarium mycelium growth by Trichoderma ranged from approximately 24% to 66%. When Fusarium and Trichoderma were co-cultured on rice, Trichoderma strains were found to inhibit DON biosynthesis by about 73% to 98%, NIV by about 87% to 100%, and ZEN by about 12% to 100%, depending on the pathogen and antagonist strain. A glycosylated form of DON was detected in the co-culture of F. culmorum and Trichoderma, whereas it was absent in cultures of the pathogen alone, thus suggesting that Trichoderma is able to glycosylate DON. The results also suggest that a strain of T. viride is able to convert ZEN into its hydroxylated derivative, ß-ZOL.

Recent Research on Fusarium Mycotoxins in Maize-A Review.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most susceptible crops to pathogenic fungal infections, and in particular to the Fusarium species. Secondary metabolites of Fusarium spp.-mycotoxins are not only phytotoxic, but also harmful to humans and animals. They can cause acute or chronic diseases with various toxic effects. The European Union member states apply standards and legal regulations on the permissible levels of mycotoxins in food and feed. This review summarises the most recent knowledge on the occurrence of toxic secondary metabolites of Fusarium in maize, taking into account modified forms of mycotoxins, the progress in research related to the health effects of consuming food or feed contaminated with mycotoxins, and also the development of biological methods for limiting and/or eliminating the presence of the same in the food chain and in compound feed.

In Vitro Effects of Lemon Balm Extracts in Reducing the Growth and Mycotoxins Biosynthesis of Fusarium culmorum and F. proliferatum.

The objectives of this research were to obtain the extracts of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) using supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) and methanol as co-solvent and evaluate the antifungal activity of those extracts against two selected strains of Fusarium species (Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium proliferatum). The extraction conditions were set at 40 and 60 °C and 250 bar. The obtained extracts were characterized in terms of antifungal activity on potato dextrose agar media (PDA). The results showed that the extraction parameters had different effects on mycelium growth and mycotoxins biosynthesis reduction. All studied lemon balm extracts (1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10%) inhibited the growth of F. proliferatum and F. culmorum mycelia compared to the control. The lemon balm extracts significantly reduced ergosterol content and synthesized mycotoxins in both tested strains. These findings support the antifungal activity of lemon balm extracts against F. proliferatum and F. culmorum. However, more research on other Fusarium species is needed, as well as in vivo applications, before considering lemon balm extracts as a natural alternative to synthetic fungicides.

Dynamics of Deoxynivalenol and Nivalenol Glucosylation in Wheat Cultivars Infected with Fusarium culmorum in Field Conditions─A 3 Year Study (2018-2020).

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by pathogenic species of Fusarium fungi is one of the most important diseases of cereal plants and a factor contributing to losses in plant production. The growth of FHB-associated species is often accompanied by biosynthesis of secondary metabolites─mycotoxins, which serve as a virulence factor. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ratios between deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) and their derivatives in the ears of six cultivars of winter wheat with varying resistance to FHB, taking into account a range of factors (weather conditions, location, cultivar, and year) after inoculation with Fusarium culmorum, during a 3 year field experiment, 2018-2020. The presence of toxins in the ears was measured within 21 days of inoculation. The toxins were found in the ears as soon as on the third day from the start of the experiment, whereas relative humidity higher than 80% was a decisive factor for FHB incidence. All wheat cultivars showed the ability to biotransform DON and NIV present in the ears to glucosides, that is, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (DON-3G) and nivalenol-3-glucoside (NIV-3G). The levels of these metabolites showed significant correlation with the levels of their basic analogues. In most cases, higher levels of DON and NIV in wheat ears and higher levels of their metabolites were observed, but the relative levels of DON-3G/DON and NIV-3G/NIV at relatively high levels of toxins were lower compared to the ear samples with relatively low toxin levels. The presented results are the first studies, which systematically correlate a variety of wheat cultivars with their extent to glucosylate trichothecenes.

Cannabinoids-Characteristics and Potential for Use in Food Production.

Scientific demonstrations of the beneficial effects of non-psychoactive cannabinoids on the human body have increased the interest in foods containing hemp components. This review systematizes the latest discoveries relating to the characteristics of cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa L. var. sativa, it also presents a characterization of the mentioned plant. In this review, we present data on the opportunities and limitations of cannabinoids in food production. This article systematizes the data on the legal aspects, mainly the limits of Δ9-THC in food, the most popular analytical techniques (LC-MS and GC-MS) applied to assay cannabinoids in finished products, and the available data on the stability of cannabinoids during heating, storage, and access to light and oxygen. This may constitute a major challenge to their common use in food processing, as well as the potential formation of undesirable degradation products. Hemp-containing foods have great potential to become commercially popular among functional foods, provided that our understanding of cannabinoid stability in different food matrices and cannabinoid interactions with particular food ingredients are expanded. There remains a need for more data on the effects of technological processes and storage on cannabinoid degradation.

Updated Review of the Toxicity of Selected Fusarium Toxins and Their Modified Forms.

Mycotoxins are one of the most dangerous food and feed contaminants, hence they have significant influence on human and animal health. This study reviews the information reported over the last few years on the toxic effects of the most relevant and studied Fusarium toxins and their modified forms. Deoxynivalenol (DON) and its metabolites can induce intracellular oxidative stress, resulting in DNA damage. Recent studies have also revealed the capability of DON and its metabolites to disturb the cell cycle and alter amino acid expression. Several studies have attempted to explore the mechanism of action of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in anorexia induction. Among other findings, two neurotransmitters associated with this process have been identified, namely substance P and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). For zearalenone (ZEN) and its metabolites, the literature points out that, in addition to their generally acknowledged estrogenic and oxidative potentials, they can also modify DNA by altering methylation patterns and histone acetylation. The ability of the compounds to induce alterations in the expression of major metabolic genes suggests that these compounds can contribute to the development of numerous metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes.