Toxigenic Alternaria species from Argentinean blueberries.

Blueberries are traditionally consumed in North America, some European countries and Japan. In Argentina, the blueberry crop is profitable because production starts in November, when the northern hemisphere lacks fresh fruit. Fungal contaminants can grow and produce mycotoxins in fresh fruit. The aims of this work were to identify the main genera of the mycobiota of blueberries grown in Argentina and to determine the toxicogenic potential, pathogenicity and host specificity of the species isolated. The genus Alternaria was the main component of the blueberry mycobiota (95%); minor proportions of Phoma spp. (4%) and Penicillium spp. (1%) were also isolated. According to their sporulation patterns, 127 Alternaria isolates belonged to the Alternaria tenuissima species-group, 5 to the Alternaria alternata species-group and 2 to the Alternaria arborescens species-group. The last mentioned species-group was not isolated at 5°C. Of the 134 isolates, 61% were toxicogenic in autoclaved rice; 97% of these produced alternariol (AOH) in a range from 0.14 to 119.18 mg/kg, 95% produced alternariol methylether (AME) in a range from 1.23 to 901.74 mg/kg and 65% produced tenuazonic acid (TA) in a range from 0.13 to 2778 mg/kg. Fifty two isolates co-produced the three mycotoxins. According to the size of the lesion that they caused on blueberries, the isolates were classified as slightly pathogenic, moderately pathogenic and very pathogenic. No significant differences in pathogenicity were found on different blueberry varieties. In this work, high incidence and toxicogenic potential of the Alternaria isolates from blueberries were demonstrated. Thus, more studies should be done to evaluate the health risk posed by the presence of the Alternaria toxins in blueberries and in the manufactured by-products.

Alternaria toxins in wheat during the 2004 to 2005 Argentinean harvest.

The natural occurrence of Alternaria mycotoxins in Argentinean wheat from the zone 5 South during the 2004 to 2005 harvest was investigated in 64 wheat samples. All samples were highly contaminated with a wide range of fungal species. Alternaria was found as the main component of the mycota, with an infection percentage of 100%. Three mycotoxins produced by species of Alternaria were determined in wheat: alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, and tenuazonic acid. Alternariol was detected in 4 (6%) of 64 samples, with a range of 645 to 1,388 microg/kg (mean of 1,054 microg/kg); alternariol monomethyl ether, with a range of 566 to 7,451 microg/kg (mean of 2,118 microg/kg) in 15 (23%) of 64 samples; and tenuazonic acid in 12 (19%) of 64 samples, with a range of 1,001 to 8,814 microg/kg (mean, 2,313 microg/kg). Alternariol monomethyl ether was the predominant toxin, but tenuazonic acid was detected in higher concentrations. Alternariol was present in fewer samples and in lower levels than were the other toxins. Tenuazonic acid and alternariol monomethyl ether occurred together in four samples, while tenuazonic acid and alternariol co-occurred in one sample. This the first report of the natural occurrence of Alternaria mycotoxins in Argentinean wheat. Toxin levels were high, probably due to the heavy infection with Alternaria species found in the samples.

Natural occurrence of nivalenol and mycotoxigenic potential of Fusarium graminearum strains in wheat affected by head blight in Argentina

The principal agents of Fusarium head blight in the main cropping area of Argentina were investigated in heavily infected samples. The ability of the isolates to produce trichothecenes was determined by GC and HPLC. Fusarium graminearum was the predominant species and of 33 isolates, 10 produced deoxinivalenol (DON) (0.1- 29 mg kg-1), 13 produced both deoxinivalenol (1.0- 708 mg kg-1) and nivalenol (0.1- 6.2mg kg-1), 12 produced 3-acetyldeoxinivalenol (0.1- 14 mg kg-1), 13 produced 15-acetyldeoxinivalenol (0.1- 1.9 mg kg-1), 10 produced Fusarenone X (0.1- 2.4 mg kg-1) and 7 produced zearalenone (0.1- 0.6 mg kg-1). These results suggest that F. graminearum strains isolated from the wheat growing regions in Argentina belong to DON chemotype. Although some strains produced both deoxinivalenol and nivalenol, nivalenol was produced in lower levels. The natural occurrence of nivalenol in wheat affected by head-blight collected in the main production area during two years (2001-2002) was also determined. From 19 samples 13 were contaminated with deoxinivalenol in a range of 0.3 to 70 mg kg-1and 2 samples with both deoxinivalenol (7.5 and 6.7 mg kg-1) and nivalenol (0.05 and 0.1 mg kg-1), respectively. This is the first report of natural occurrence of nivalenol in wheat cultivate in Argentina.

O principal causador de giberela no trigo na Argentina e sua capacidade de produzir tricotecenos foram estudados por GC e HPLC em amostras altamente infectadas. A espécie predominante foi Fusarium graminearum, sendo que de um total de 33 isolados, 10 produziram deoxinivalenol (0,1-29 mg kg -1), 13 produziram deoxinivalenol (1,0-708 mg kg-1) e nivalenol (0,1-6,2 mg kg-1), 12 produziram 3-acetildeoxinivalenol (0,1-14 mg kg-1), 13 produziram 15-acetildeoxinivalenol (0,1-1,9 mg kg-1), 10 produziram fusarenona X (0,1- 2,4 mg kg-1) e 7 produziram zearalenona (0,1- 0,6 mg kg-1). Esses resultados sugerem que as cepas de F. graminearum isoladas de trigo cultivado na Argentina pertencem ao quimiotipo DON. Embora algumas cepas tenham produzido tanto DON quanto NIV, NIV foi produzido em quantidade inferior ao DON. A ocorrência natural de nivalenol em trigo afetado pela giberela coletado na principal área de produção durante dois anos (2001-2002) foi também determinada. De 19 amostras, 13 estavam contaminadas com deoxinivalenol na faixa de 0,3 a 70 mg kg-1 e 2amostras continham tanto deoxinivalenol (7,5 e 6,7 mg kg-1) quanto nivalenol (0,05 e 0,1 mg kg-1), respectivamente. Esse é o primeiro relato da ocorrência de nivalenol em trigo cultivado na Argentina.

Natural occurrence of nivalenol and mycotoxigenic potential of Fusarium graminearum strains in wheat affected by head blight in Argentina.

The principal agents of Fusarium head blight in the main cropping area of Argentina were investigated in heavily infected samples. The ability of the isolates to produce trichothecenes was determined by GC and HPLC. Fusarium graminearum was the predominant species and of 33 isolates, 10 produced deoxinivalenol (DON) (0.1- 29 mg kg(-1)), 13 produced both deoxinivalenol (1.0- 708 mg kg(-1)) and nivalenol (0.1- 6.2mg kg(-1)), 12 produced 3-acetyldeoxinivalenol (0.1- 14 mg kg(-1)), 13 produced 15-acetyldeoxinivalenol (0.1- 1.9 mg kg(-1)), 10 produced Fusarenone X (0.1- 2.4 mg kg(-1)) and 7 produced zearalenone (0.1- 0.6 mg kg(-1)). These results suggest that F. graminearum strains isolated from the wheat growing regions in Argentina belong to DON chemotype. Although some strains produced both deoxinivalenol and nivalenol, nivalenol was produced in lower levels. The natural occurrence of nivalenol in wheat affected by head-blight collected in the main production area during two years (2001-2002) was also determined. From 19 samples 13 were contaminated with deoxinivalenol in a range of 0.3 to 70 mg kg(-1)and 2 samples with both deoxinivalenol (7.5 and 6.7 mg kg(-1)) and nivalenol (0.05 and 0.1 mg kg(-1)), respectively. This is the first report of natural occurrence of nivalenol in wheat cultivate in Argentina.

Mycotoxin production by Alternaria strains isolated from Argentinean wheat.

The toxigenic potential of Alternaria strains isolated from Argentinean wheat was investigated. A total of 123 strains were assayed for the production of tenuazonic acid (TA), alternariol (AOH) and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME). All but one of the isolates were able to produce at least one of the three mycotoxins. TA was produced by 72% of the strains (1-14782 mg/kg), AOH by 87% (4-622 mg/kg) and AME by 91% (7-2625 mg/kg). The average level of TA detected for all strains (1757 mg/kg) was higher than the average level of both alternariols (162 mg/kg for AOH and 620 mg/kg for AME). TA was the toxin produced at the highest concentration but in lower frequency. Most of the strains were able to synthesize more than one toxin: 74 isolates (60%) were positive for all three toxins, 30 (24%) for both AOH and AME, 5 (4%) for both TA and AME, and 2 (2%) for TA and AOH. The widespread occurrence of Alternaria in wheat and its ability to produce mycotoxins suggests the possible occurrence of its toxins in wheat naturally infected with this fungus.

Occurrence of alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether and tenuazonic acid in Argentinean tomato puree.

The occurrence ofAlternaria mycotoxins was investigated in 80 samples of tomato puree processed and sold in Argentina. Alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TA) were searched for by liquid chromatography. Thirty-nine of the 80 samples showed mycotoxin contamination. TA was found in 23 samples (39-4021 µg/kg), AOH in 5 samples (187-8756 µg/kg), and AME in 21 samples (84-1734 µg/kg). Co-occurrence of two of these toxins was detected in 10 samples. This is the first report of natural occurrence of AOH, AME and TA in tomato products in Argentina.