Dentre os desafios do cultivo de trigo, encontram-se as doenças fúngicas e a presença de micotoxinas. Estima-se que as perdas anuais nesse setor sejam bilionárias. Além dos prejuízos econômicos, há preocupações quanto a segurança alimentar humana e animal. Com o objetivo de avaliar a micobiota e a ocorrência de micotoxinas em diferentes estádios de maturação do trigo foram realizados estudos morfológicos, utilizando métodos morfológicos clássicos e moleculares, identificação do perfil genotípico dos fungos produtores de tricotecenos, por PCR em tempo real e determinação de deoxinivalenol (DON) e zearalenona (ZEA), utilizando a Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência acoplada à Espectrometria de Massas (LC-MS/MS). Os dados obtidos também foram correlacionados com os fatores climatológicos. Os resultados revelaram a predominância do gênero Fusarium nas amostras das duas safras, seguido de Alternaria e Epicoccum. A atividade de água média para os dois anos foram, 0,608 e 0,886, consecutivamente. Dentro do gênero Fusarium constatou-se predomínio do complexo de espécies Fusarium graminearum (CEFG), identificando F. graminearum sensu stricto, F. meridionale, F. cortaderiae e F. austroamericanum. Os genótipos dos isolados foram, na sua maioria, 15-ADON para F. graminearum s.s, seguido de NIV para as espécies F. meridionale, F. cortaderiae e F. austroamericanum e 3-ADON para as duas últimas. Por PCR em tempo real, a determinação do genótipo nos grãos de trigo nas safras 2014/15 e 2015/16 demonstraram predomínio de 100% e 93% para 15-ADON, respectivamente. A quantificação de DNA dos isolados do CEFG demostrou que o perfil 15-ADON foi responsável por mais de 95% nas duas safras, com valores irrisórios, menores que 3% para 3-ADON e NIV. Os níveis de contaminação pela micotoxina DON nas amostras foi de 100% nas duas safras, com valores variando entre 24,3 a 5530 &#956g/kg. Para ZEA os valores foram 30% e 96%, nas duas coletas consecutivas, variação entre 26,0 a 4360 &#956g/kg. Ambas as micotoxinas foram detectadas em concentrações acima do limite estabelecido pela legislação brasileira, 3000 &#956g/kg para DON e 400 &#956g/kg para ZEA. Os fatores climáticos obtiveram uma correlação positiva tanto na contaminação fúngica quanto no acúmulo de micotoxinas. Este estudo forneceu novas informações sobre a micobiota natural do trigo brasileiro, em diferentes etapas do cultivo, demonstrando a contaminação por DON e alta frequência de ZEA em amostras do provindas do Paraná. / The fungal diseases and the presence of mycotoxins in cereals cause annually, billionaire losses. In addition, there are concerns about human and animal food safety. Due to the wheat culture relevance in feed and foodstuff, the present work aimed to evaluate mycobiota and the occurrence of mycotoxins in different wheat maturation stages. In order to achieve these objectives, morphologic studies using classic and molecular methods, genotype profile and DNA quantification from trichothecene producers, by real-time PCR and determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA), using High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), were done. The obtained data were also correlated with the climatic factors. The results showed the predominance of the genus Fusarium followed by Alternaria and Epicoccum. The average water activity over two years were 0.608 and 0.886, consecutively. Within the genus Fusarium, it was identified a predominance of the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC), identifying F. graminearum sensu stricto, F. meridionale, F. cortaderiae and F. austroamericanum. The genotypes of the isolates were 15-ADON for F. graminearum s.s, followed by NIV for the F. meridionale, F. cortaderiae and F. austroamericanum and 3-ADON for F. cortaderiae and F. austroamericanum. In real-time PCR, the determination of genotype in wheat grains in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 harvests showed a predominance of 100% and 93% for 15-ADON, respectively. The DNA quantification of the FGSC isolates showed that the 15-ADON profile was responsible for more than 95% in both harvests. The levels of DON mycotoxin contamination in the samples were 100%, with values ranging from 24.3 to 5530 &#956g/kg. For ZEA the values were 30% and 96%, in the two consecutive collections, ranging from 26,0 to 4360 &#956g/kg. Both mycotoxins were detected in concentrations above the limit established by Brazilian legislation, 3000 &#956g / kg for DON and 400 &#956g/kg for ZEA. The climatic factors obtained a positive correlation both in the fungal contamination and in the accumulation of mycotoxins. This study provided new information on the Brazilian native mycobiota to different stages of cultivation, demonstrating contamination by DON and high frequency of ZEA in samples from Paraná.

Master of Science / Department of Plant Pathology / Robert L. Bowden / John F. Leslie / Fusarium graminearum Schwabe sensu lato (teleomorph: Gibberella zeae (Schwein.) Petch), a homothallic ascomycete fungus, is the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and other small grains. FHB occurs worldwide and serious outbreaks have been reported in North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. According to the phylogenetic species concept (PSC), F. graminearum is composed of at least 15 phylogenetic lineages known as the Fusarium graminearum species complex. Although F. graminearum is homothallic, some members of different phylogenetic lineages are known to intercross in the laboratory. It has been suggested that F. graminearum sensu lato fits the biological species concept (BSC). According to the BSC, “species are groups of actually or potentially interbreeding natural populations, which are reproductively isolated from other such groups”. Previous reports of intercrossing were qualitative, so the degree of reproductive isolation, if any, is not clear. Since intrinsic reproductive isolation is the key criterion to identify species by the BSC, more detailed quantitative information is needed. Chromosome rearrangements between fungal strains may reduce fertility in sexual crosses through the production of genetically inviable recombinant progeny. As such, rearrangements can be important postzygotic reproductive barriers between species. Following methods used in Neurospora crassa, ascospore tetrads were analyzed for patterns of ascospore viability. Crosses were made with three lineage 7 (F. graminearum sensu stricto according to PSC) strains as female. Each female was a MAT1-2 knockout mutant that rendered it obligately heterothallic. Males were several members of lineages 6 (F. asiaticum according to PSC) and lineage 7. Crosses with lineage 7 males formed complete asci with 8 ascospores indicating that their genomes are isosequential with the testers. Crosses with one strain from lineage 6 with two known inversions produced asci containing 8, 6, and 4 ascospores, consistent with it not being isosequential. However, three other strains of lineage 6 appeared to be isosequential with the testers. Therefore, chromosome rearrangements did not appear to be common to strains of lineage 6 and probably do not contribute significantly to reproductive isolation of lineage 6 and lineage 7. Interlineage fertility studies with the three lineage 7 tester strains were performed to quantify interlineage fertility parameters including the total number of ascospores produced, perithecial density, and perithecium internal development scores. All lineage 7 female testers successfully crossed to all 23 male strains from lineages 1 to 9. For total ascospore production, one female tester crossed equally well with all lineages and the other two testers showed statistically significant differences for a few lineages. For perithecial density, there was a significantly lower density with all three testers when crossed with lineage 6, but the other lineages were not statistically different from lineage 7. For perithecial development, there was large variation for every lineage. Therefore, in the crosses with reduced fertility, the reduction can be attributed to a postzygotic effect since mature perithecia and asci developed. All of the tested lineages of the Fusarium graminearum species complex can produce viable progeny with F. graminearum lineage 7, which was the taxonomic type of the original species before it was split into phylogenetic species. There are a few examples of reduced fertility with two lineage 7 testers, the remaining tester crossed equally well with all lineages. Therefore members of lineages 1-9 all should be considered members of Fusarium graminearum according to the BSC. The existing female testers could be used to identify members of the F. graminearum clade by performing test crosses in the laboratory. The PSC and BSC species concepts do not agree for this group of fungi. This disagreement indicates that the F. graminearum species complex is in the early stages of speciation. The lack of intrinsic reproductive barriers supports the hypothesis that these lineages have developed in geographic isolation. As the lineages have apparently been brought together through global trade, interlineage hybrids have been reported in the field. The discrepancy between PSC and BSC will eventually be resolved by whether the lineages fuse or remain separate in nature. Even if the lineages remain separate, this study demonstrates the potential for gene flow between lineage 7 and lineages 1 through 9.