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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #305224
Title: Interaction of F. verticillioides and Talaromyces sp. in maize seeds

Author
item Peterson, Stephen
item Wicklow, Donald

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/8/2014
Publication Date: 8/8/2014
Citation: Peterson, S.W., Wicklow, D.T. 2014. Interaction of F. verticillioides and Talaromyces sp. in maize seeds [abstract]. IMC10.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We conducted studies in maize fields (Illinois, USA, 2013) to observe the interactions of Talaromyces species with fumonisin producing Fusarium verticillioides in corn seeds. Maize ears were inoculated during the milk phase using sterile wooden toothpicks dipped in conidium suspensions, or sterile distilled water. Ears were harvested at maturity and shelled. Subsamples of each treatment were milled and tested for fumonisin levels. Other seeds were surface sterilized and placed on 3% malt agar with antibiotics to determine the fungal species contaminating the mature seeds. Germination levels for the seeds were recorded. Twelve control (untreated) samples germinated at 90–100% rates, 25–50% of the seed samples contained F. verticillioides, and 0–24% of seed samples harbored Talaromyces sp. Samples from ears wounded with toothpicks dipped in sterile water showed reduced germination (ca. 66–74%), 38–62% F. verticillioides and 50–92% Talaromyces sp. Ears inoculated with Talaromcyes sp. #14 had germination rates of 92–98%, F. verticillioides was present in 2–34% of seeds and Talaromyces sp. #14 was present in 86–100% of seeds. Control seeds with sterile-water toothpick wounds produced 1.0–1.7 PPM fumonisin, while samples inoculated with Talaromyces sp. #14 showed 5 samples with undetectable levels of fumonisin (<0.25 PPM) and one sample with 0.32 PPM fumonisin. In vitro studies are underway to understand the interactions of these species.