O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a microbiota fúngica e a ocorrência de micotoxinas por Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência acoplada à Espectrometria de Massas em amostras de grãos de trigo recém-colhidas e armazenadas. Os resultados revelaram a predominância do gênero Alternaria nas amostras de todas as coletas, seguido de Epicoccum (12,6%), Fusarium (8,3%) e mais 16 outros gêneros de fungos filamentosos. As espécies de Fusarium e Alternaria foram identificadas utilizando métodos moleculares, sendo F. graminearum e A. alternata as espécies mais frequentes. De 70 amostras, 69 (98,6%) estavam contaminadas com a toxina DON (210-2910 ppb) e 3 (4,3%) amostras contaminadas com a toxina ZEA (20-30,1 ppb). O nível de contaminação por DON é inferior aos limites estabelecidos recentemente pela legislação brasileira (3000 ppb), porém superam os limites da Comunidade Européia (1750 ppb). É prudente que se realize um monitoramento contínuo de grãos de trigo a fim de avaliar a exposição dos consumidores às contaminações e estabelecer diretrizes de segurança alimentar. / The present study aimed to evaluated the mycoflora and occurrence of mycotoxins by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass in freshly harvested and stored wheat samples. The results showed the predominance of genus Alternaria in all samples, followed by Epicoccum (12.6%), Fusarium (8.3%) and over 16 other genera of filamentous fungi. The species of Fusarium and Alternaria were identified using molecular methods, and F. graminearum and A. alternata were the most frequent species. Of 70 samples, 69 (98.6%) were contaminated with toxin DON (210-2910 ppb), and 3 (4.3%) samples contaminated with the toxin ZEA (20-30.1 ppb). The level of DON contamination is below of the limits recently established by Brazilian legislation (3000 ppb), but exceed the limits of the European Community (1750 ppb). It is prudent to perform a continuous monitoring of wheat to assess consumer exposure to contaminants and establish guidelines for food safety.

Este trabalho teve dois objetivos distintos, o primeiro foi realizar um levantamento da micoflora associada a grãos ardidos de híbridos comerciais de milho pertencentes à empresa Dow AgroSciences e o outro foi avaliar linhagens de milho tropical para a resistência a podridão da espiga, incidência de grãos ardidos e produção de fumonisinas por Fusarium verticillioides. Para o primeiro objetivo, coletou-se grãos de dois híbridos (2B587 e 2B710) cultivados em diferentes localidades do Brasil durante a safra verão e safrinha, sob as zonas macro-climáticas SA (subtropical alta), SB (subtropical baixa), TA (tropical alta), TB (tropical baixa) e TT (tropical de transição) afim de, realizar a determinação da incidência fúngica através do método do papel de filtro com congelamento. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições de 50 grãos de cada amostra. Os resultados indicaram Fusarium spp. e Penicillium spp. como os fungos de maior incidência nos grãos, sendo que na safra verão o comportamento dos híbridos em relação a incidência desses fungos variou de acordo com a zona climática. Na safrinha, o híbrido 2B710 foi o mais resistente a Fusarium spp. e Penicillium spp. independente da zona climática. Para o segundo objetivo, seis linhagens tropicais de milho, previamente classificadas como resistentes (R1, R2 e R3) e suscetíveis (S1, S2 e S3) a F. verticillioides pela Dow AgroSciences foram cultivadas na estação experimental da companhia, localizada no município de Jardinópolis/SP durante a safra verão e safrinha. O ensaio consistiu de dois tratamentos (inoculados e não inoculados), sendo que a inoculação foi feita através da pulverização 2 mL de uma suspensão de 106 conídios/ml no estigma da espiga e nas espigas não inoculadas a doença ocorreu por meio de infecção natural. A avaliação de severidade foi feita por uma escala de notas de 0 a 7, a incidência foi avaliada através da porcentagem de grãos ardidos em sub - amostras de 200 grãos de cada tratamento por repetição e a detecção dos níveis de fumonisinas foi realizada pelo método de Elisa. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com três repetições. Os resultados obtidos na safra verão indicaram uma variação na severidade de 1,2 a 4,3, na incidência de grãos sintomáticos de 13,7 a 46% e os níveis de fumonisinas detectados entre as linhagens variaram de 5,5 µg/g a 41 µg/g. Na safrinha, não houve diferenças significativas comparada à safra verão para a severidade, mas houve uma redução na incidência de grãos sintomáticos que variaram de 4,2% a 22,7% e redução nos níveis de fumonisina, os quais ficaram entre 1,5 µg/g a 22,7 µg/g. Nas duas safras, as linhagens R2 e R3 comportaram-se como mais resistentes a produção de fumonisinas e a R1 comportou-se como mais resistente a podridão da espiga e incidência de grãos ardidos, demonstrando que não houve correlação entre severidade da doença e incidência de grãos ardidos com níveis de fumonisinas. / This work aimed to survey the mycoflora associated to damaged grains of commercial hybrid maize provided by the company Dow AgroScience and to assess the resistance levels of six tropical inbred lines to ear rot, incidence of damaged grains and of fumonisins production by Fusarium veticillioides. For the first objective, two hybrids (2B587 and 2B710) were collected and cultivated in different regions in Brazil, during the normal season and the late-summer plantings, known as safrinha, on macro-climatic zones SA (high subtropical), SB (low subtropical), TA (high tropical), TB (low tropical) and TT (tropical transition). The fungal incidence determination was made through the deep - freezing blotter test. The experimental design was totally randomized with four replicates of 50 grains each sample. The results showed Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp. as the most prevalent fungi, and the incidence of such fungi in each hybrid varied according to the climatic zone. In the late-summer plantings, the 2B710 hybrid was the most resistant to Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp., independent of the climatic zone. For the second aim, six inbreed lines of tropical maize, previously classified as resistant (R1,R2 and R3) and susceptible (S1,S2 and S3) to F. verticillioides by Dow AgroSciences were cultivated in the experimental station of the company, localized in Jardinópolis / SP during the normal season and the late-summer plantings. The tests were made by two kinds of treatment (inoculated and non inoculated), and the inoculated treatment was made by spraying 2 mL of a 106 conidia/mL suspension onto the silk channel of the corn ear and, in the no inoculated ones, the disease occurred by natural infection. Severity was evaluated using a scale of 0 to 7, whereas the incidence was evaluated by counting the damaged grains in sub samples of 200 grains. Fumonisins levels detection were determined by the ELISA method. The experimental design was made in random blocks with three replicates. The results, in the normal season indicated a severity variation of 1.2 to 4.3, and in the symptomatic grains, the incidence was from 13.7 to 46% and the detected fumonisins levels among the inbreed lines ranged from 5.5 µg/g to 41 µg/g. No statistical differences between the normal season and the late-summer plantings were observed, concerning severity. However, there was a decrease in symptomatic grains, ranging from 4.2% to 22.7%, as well as a decrease in fumonisins levels, from 1.5 µg to 22.7 µg. The R2 and R3 inbreed lines showed more resistance to fumonisins production and R1 showed higher resistance to corn ear rot and damaged corn grains incidence. It was concluded that there was no relation between the disease severity and the of incidence damaged grains with high fumonisins levels.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a species broadly cultivated in southern Brazil and neighboring countries, which leaves and fine branches prepared according to the appropriate method, make the mate or chimarrão , the most popular tea consumed in Brazil and exported everywhere. With the increasing planted area, mainly in the last decade, fitossanitary problems caused by pest and diseases have increased in this crop and among them, the root-rot is becoming one of the main ones. The disease is caused by Fusarium spp., besides Pythium sp. and Rhizoctonia sp. and, it causes serious damages to the roots, causing, in most serious cases, death of the plant. With the suspicion that the incidence and disease severity are influenced by cultivation methods and management practices, such as mineral fertilizers application without technical criteria or no fertilizers, lime application and erva-mate cultivation at full sun, experiments were conducted in the Forest Nursery area belonging to Forest Sciences Department of the Federal University Santa Maria with the objective of confirming these assumptions. The first experiment was conducted in a factorial design (4 x 3 x 4) composed by Fusarium spp. inoculation, by lime application and by NPK fertilization. The second experiment was conducted in a factorial design (2 x 5), composed by Fusarium spp. inoculation and by shading levels. The use of commercial bioprotectors containing antagonistic organisms to Fusarium spp. has given satisfactory results in some patossystems. Therefore, in the conduction of a third experiment, in a factorial design (4 x 4), Fusarium spp. inoculation and the efficiency of commercial products for biological control was tested. It was verified that the lime application, combined with large fertilizer doses, compromised the development of the erva-mate plants, besides turning them more susceptible to Fusarium spp. The availability of nutrients also influenced the fungic population of the soil. In the same way, plants submitted to cower shading levels or full sun had its development compromised and were more susceptible to the disease. The use of commercial bioprotectors was not efficient in the conditions of this experiment. / A erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis) é uma espécie amplamente cultivada no sul do Brasil e países vizinhos, cujas folhas e galhos finos preparados, segundo método apropriado, fornecem o mate ou chimarrão, o mais popular chá consumido no Brasil e exportado para todo o mundo. Com o aumento da área plantada, sobretudo na última década, os problemas fitossanitários causados por pragas e doenças aumentaram e, dentre estes, a podridão-de-raízes vem se tornando um dos principais. A doença é causada por Fusarium spp., além de Pythium sp. e Rhizoctonia sp. e provoca sérios danos decorrentes da destruição do sistema radicular, ocasionando, nos casos mais graves, morte da planta. Suspeita-se que a incidência e a severidade da doença são influenciadas pelos métodos de cultivo e por práticas de manejo do erval, como aplicação de adubos minerais sem critérios técnicos ou ausência de adubação, calagem do solo e cultivo de ervais a pleno sol. Assim, foram instalados experimentos na área do Viveiro Florestal pertencente ao Departamento de Ciências Florestais da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria com o objetivo de confirmar tais hipóteses. O primeiro experimento foi conduzido em um esquema fatorial (4 x 3 x 4) composto pela inoculação de Fusarium spp., pela calagem do solo e pela adubação NPK. O segundo experimento foi conduzido em um esquema fatorial (2 x 5), composto pela inoculação de Fusarium spp. e por níveis de sombreamento. Além disso, a utilização de bioprotetores comerciais contendo organismos antagônicos ao Fusarium spp. tem dado resultados satisfatórios em alguns patossistemas. Portanto, conduziu-se um terceiro experimento, em um esquema fatorial (4 x 4), testando-se a inoculação de Fusarium spp. e a eficiência de produtos comerciais para controle biológico. Verificou-se que a calagem do solo, combinada com maiores doses de adubação, comprometeu o desenvolvimento das plantas de erva-mate, além de torná-las mais suscetíveis ao ataque de Fusarium spp. A disponibilidade de nutrientes também influenciou a população fúngica do solo. Da mesma forma, plantas submetidas aos menores níveis de sombreamento ou a pleno sol tiveram seu desenvolvimento prejudicado e ficaram mais suscetíveis à doença. A utilização de bioprotetores comerciais não foi eficiente nas condições deste experimento.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Erva mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) is a species widely cultivated in southern Brazil and adjacent countries, whose leaves and fine branches, appropriately prepared, offer the mate-tea, the most popular tea consumed in Brazil and exported to all over the world. root-rot is the main disease of this species in Brazil and may attack plantules and seedlings in nurseries as well as adult trees in orchards. The disease is caused by Fusarium spp., besides Pythium sp. and Rhizoctonia sp. causing serious damages due to the root system destruction, it causes, in the most serious cases the death of the plant. The incidence and the severity of the disease might be influenced by the cultivation methods and management of the orchard, with the use of mineral fertilizers without any technical criteria or the absence of fertilization, soil liming and orchards cultivation under the sun. In order to verify such hypothesis, 25 rural estates were marked in different counties of Vale do Taquari area in the state of Rio Grande do Sul BR. These areas had some orchards with symptoms of the disease and others in healthy conditions. Information about the crop and management characteristics, as well as soil for chemical and biological analysis, were collected and correlated through Pearson and outspread in direct and indirect effects through Path Analysis. In the nurseries, the disease incidence might be correlated to the contamination of the seed and the transmitted pathogens besides causing the death of the seedling may also have been transmitted to health seedlings, and they might had been transported to the field, contaminated areas which were previously free from the pathogen. Some practices applied by the farmers may cause the increase in the incidence of pathogens in the seeds and seedlings. In order to verify such hypothesis, some nurseries have been selected in the area of Vale do Taquari RS, where some samples of seeds, plantules, seedlings and substrata were collected in order to analyze the inoculation potential of the pathogens in each sort of sample. From the analysis of the substrata, seeds, seedlings different fungi colonies of the genre Fusarium were isolated, purified and stored for pathogenicity tests and, Trichoderma, for isolated selection with potential Fusarium antagonist. Moreover, experiments were installed in 2 nurseries, aiming at testing the benefits of commercial chemical (Captan SC®) and biological (Agrotrich® e Trichodel®) products, in the seed treatment, aiming at controlling the incidence of the disease on the seedbed. In the orchards, among the studied variables, it was noticed that the organic matter is the most influential over the Fusarium population in the soil and a linear positive correlation was obtained. Besides this variable, the calcium and phosphorus contends also have some sort of influence over the Fusarium population, however, in a less significant way. In the nurseries, the high percentage of seeds contaminated by Fusarium and Rhizoctonia was noticed. It was also noticed that the contamination begins in the flower and fruit phase. It was also observed that the technique of seed processing and stratification applied by the farmers, contribute to the increase in the incidence of pathogens. Besides the seeds, it was also noticed that the plantules and seedlings at the end of the nursery cycle, present pathogen contamination in their roots, although they did not present root-rot symptoms. The products Captan SC®, Agrotrich® and Trichodel® applied on the seed treatment, before the sowing, were not efficient in the Fusarium and Rhizoctonia control. In the Trichoderma spp. selection as potential antagonist to Fusarium, it was observed that SP-SFE-T1 isolated present high antagonic potential in in vitro tests. / A erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) é uma espécie amplamente cultivada no sul do Brasil e países vizinhos, cujas folhas e galhos finos, preparados segundo método apropriado, fornecem o mate ou chimarrão, o mais popular chá consumido no Brasil e exportado para todo o mundo. A podridão-de-raízes é a principal doença da espécie no Brasil, podendo atacar plântulas e mudas no viveiro, bem como, árvores adultas em ervais. A doença é causada por Fusarium spp., além de Pythium sp. e Rhizoctonia sp. e provoca sérios danos decorrentes da destruição do sistema radicular, ocasionando, nos casos mais graves, morte da planta. Suspeita-se que a incidência e a severidade da doença são influenciadas pelos métodos de cultivo e por práticas de manejo do erval, como aplicação de adubos minerais sem critérios técnicos ou ausência de adubação, calagem do solo e cultivo de ervais a pleno sol. Para verificar tal hipótese, foram demarcadas 25 propriedades rurais, em diferentes municípios da região do Vale do Taquari-RS, as quais possuíam ervais com sintomas da doença, e outras com ervais sadios. Nesses ervais, foram coletadas informações a respeito das características de cultivo e manejo, assim como, solo para análise química e biológica. Estas informações foram correlacionadas entre si através da correlação de Pearson e desdobradas em efeitos diretos e indiretos através da Análise de Trilha. Nos viveiros, suspeita-se que a incidência da doença está correlacionada à contaminação das sementes utilizadas e que, patógenos transmitidos por sementes, além de causar mortalidade de mudas, podem ser transmitidos a mudas sadias e, estas, serem transportadas para o campo, contaminando áreas livres do patógeno. Além disso, algumas práticas utilizadas pelos viveiristas podem ocasionar aumento da incidência de patógenos nas sementes e mudas. Para verificar tal hipótese, foram demarcados viveiros na região do Vale do Taquari-RS, onde foram coletadas amostras de sementes, de plântulas, de mudas e de substrato para analisar o potencial de inóculo de patógenos presente em cada tipo de amostra. A partir das análises do substrato, das sementes e das mudas, diferentes colônias de fungos do gênero Fusarium foram isoladas, purificadas e armazenadas, para testes de patogenicidade e, Trichoderma, para seleção de isolados com potencial antagonista ao Fusarium. Além disso, foram instalados experimentos, em dois viveiros, a fim de testar a eficiência dos produtos comerciais, químico (Captan SC®) e biológico (Agrotrich® e Trichodel®), no tratamento de sementes, visando o controle da incidência da doença nas sementeiras. Nos ervais, entre as variáveis estudadas, verificou-se que a matéria orgânica é a que mais influencia na população de Fusarium do solo, obtendo-se uma correlação linear positiva. Além desta variável, os teores de cálcio e de fósforo no solo também exercem certa influencia na população de Fusarium, mas de forma menos significativa. Nos viveiros, constatou-se alta porcentagem de sementes contaminadas por Fusarium e Rhizoctonia e que, a contaminação começa já na fase de flores e frutos. Observou-se também, que a técnica de beneficiamento e estratificação das sementes, utilizada atualmente pelos viveiristas, contribui para o aumento da incidência de patógenos. Além das sementes, observou-se que plântulas e mudas no final do ciclo de viveiro, apresentam contaminação por patógenos nas suas raízes, mesmo que não apresentavam sintomas de podridão-de-raízes. Os produtos Captan SC®, Agrotrich® e Trichodel® utilizados no tratamento das sementes, previamente a semeadura, não foram eficientes no controle de Fusarium e Rhizoctonia. Na seleção de Trichoderma spp. com potencial antagonista ao Fusarium observou-se que o isolado SP-SFE-T1 apresentou alto potencial antagônico em testes in vitro .

Une méthode permettant de caractériser l’ensemble du métabolome secondaire de moisissures a été appliquée à la caractérisation des métabolomes de Penicillium nordicum, Penicillium verrucosum et Fusarium graminearum. Le substrat représentant l’unique source de carbone et d’azote des moisissures, chacun des champignons ont été mis en culture sur trois types de grains de blé: (i) grains naturels, (ii) grains marqués à 97% de 13C, et (iii) grains marqués à 53% 13C et 97% de 15N. Les extraits ont été analysés par HRMS. Les métabolites secondaires ont été spécifiquement détectés et leurs formules brutes ont été caractérisées. La caractérisation de nouveaux métabolites secondaires a ensuite été assistées par la génération de réseaux moléculaires de similarités MS/MS. L’étude de P. verrucosum et P. nordicum a permis de détecter 98 et 92 métabolites secondaires respectivement. Parmi eux, 80% étaient inconnus. La génération de réseaux moléculaires a permis de mettre en évidence un groupe de 25 composés se fragmentant de manière similaire. Seize de ces composés ont été identifiés comme étant des dérivés de fungisporines, des métabolites suspectés d’intervenir dans la croissance aérienne des champignons. Des analyses structurales ont permis de caractériser de nouveaux composés potentiellement impliqués dans l’infestation des denrées alimentaires. Le marquage du métabolome de F. graminearum par des isotopes stables a permis de mettre en évidence la production de 37 métabolites secondaires dont 29 inconnus lorsque le champignon se développe in vitro. Des analyses par MSn ont permis d’élucider les structures des fusaristatines C et D. / Characterization of fungal secondary metabolomes became a great challenge in the last decades due to both the emergence of fungal threats, and the industrial interest of many natural products; In view of this, we recently developed an analytical strategy for fungal secondary metabolome characterization (Cano P. et al. Anal. Chem. (2013) 85:8412) based on untargeted MS metabolomics applied to labeled samples. This strategy has been here validated by application to the analysis of the complex secondary metabolomes of Penicillium verrucosum and Penicillium nordicum. HRMS acquisitions performed on specific isotopically labelled samples, MS/MS experiments and in-silico emerging tools such as molecular networks, allowed to characterize 181 metabolites, including 80% of new compounds, and the structural determination of seven potential new mycotoxins. Penicillium verrucosum (NRRL 5571) and Penicillium nordicum (NRRL 6062) were grown on wheat grains (Triticum aestivum) presenting different isotopic enrichments: (i) naturally enriched grains, (ii) 97% 13C, and (iii) 53% 13C / 97% 15N. Extracts of each culture were analyzed by HPLC coupled to a LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometer equipped with electrospray ionization, operating in the positive or the negative mode. Metabolites were then specifically detected according to the specific isotopic pattern of their respective isotopic enrichments. Known secondary metabolites were annotated using the Antibase database, then identified by comparison with standard compounds when available. Unknown secondary metabolites were annotated using molecular networks of MS/MS similarities (Watrous J. et al.; PNAS (2012) 109 E1743). Wheat grains representing the only source of carbon and nitrogen for fungal growth, the produced fungal secondary metabolites were either unlabeled (naturally enriched cultures), singly labeled (13C cultures) or doubly labeled (13C/15N cultures). This feature allowed discrimination of fungal metabolites against non-fungal compounds which remained unlabeled in the three substrates. Fungal origin was further confirmed by analysis of a control 12C wheat extract (without fungus). Furthermore, the comparison of m/z ratios of a same metabolite detected in the three different cultures, led to the unambiguous determination of the number of carbon and nitrogen atoms and therefore to the unambiguous characterization of its chemical formula. This approach previously developed and validated on a well characterized fungus, has been here successfully applied to the characterization of the complex and unknown secondary metabolomes of P. verrucosum and P. nordicum. Analyses of the two studied fungal strains allowed the detection of 181 secondary metabolites. Interestingly, only 20% of them are suspected to match known metabolites according to databases, meaning that 80% of this metabolome is unknown. To enhance unknown identification efficiency, a molecular network of MS/MS similarities has been generated from our data. A group of 24 metabolites with highly similar MS/MS spectra was highlighted on P. nordicum and P. verrucosum. Fifteen of them were identified as cyclic tetrapeptides from the fungisporin family. Tandem mass spectrometry experiments were performed to characterize the structure of these secondary metabolites. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time these molecules are pointed out on these Penicillium species. More interestingly, seven of the other metabolites display some similarities with fungisporins, but have never been detected on fungal metabolomes. Furthermore, although the two studied strains are genetically close, these new metabolites seem to be strain specific.

F. graminearum est l’une des espèces prédominantes en tant que pathogène des céréales en Europe et dans les régions tempérées du monde. Cette moisissure appartient au genre Fusarium qui est l’un des genres qui produit le plus de métabolites secondaires, dont de nombreuses mycotoxines. Cependant, les connaissances sur son génome laissent présager que F. graminearum produit une très grande variété de métabolites qui sont encore inconnus. C’est pourquoi l’objectif de cette thèse a été de caractériser le métabolome de cette moisissure en identifiant de nouveaux métabolites ainsi qu’en étudiant leur toxicité. Pour cela, une méthode analytique combinant la spectrométrie de masse de haute résolution et le marquage des métabolites secondaires avec des isotopes stables a été développée. Celle‐ci à tout d’abord était validée avec le métabolome bien connu d’Aspergillus fumigatus avant d’être appliquée au métabolome de F. graminearum. Cette méthode a permis d’identifier 37 nouveaux métabolites, dont les fusaristatines A, C et D qui on été détectées pour la première fois chez F. graminearum. Le deoxynivalenol (DON) est une mycotoxine majeure produite par F. graminearum, c’est pourquoi sa toxicité a été comparée in vivo sur un modèle porcin à celle d’un mélange de fusariotoxines. Les résultats de cette étude ont montré une toxicité bien différente du mélange par rapport au DON seul, que ce soit par rapport à la performance des animaux ou à leur réponse immunitaire. Ceci suggère que certaines des fusariotoxines présentes dans le mélange auraient des répercutions biologiques et donc que leur toxicité reste encore à être élucidée. De plus, l’importance de la caractérisation de la toxicité du métabolome de F. graminearum a été soulignée par les résultats obtenus dans une seconde étude, qui ont révélés une possible implication du DON dans les maladies inflammatoires chroniques de l’intestin par l’intermédiaire des lymphocytes Th17. / F. graminearum is one of the most predominant cereal pathogen in Europe and temperate regions of the world. It belongs to the genera Fusarium, which is one of the most important in terms of the production of secondary metabolites, among which stand several mycotoxins. However, recent advances on the study of its genome suggest that only a small fraction of the secondary metabolites produced by F. graminearum have been identified so far. Therefore, the main objective of this thesis was to characterize the metabolome of this fungus by identifying new metabolites and by analyzing their toxicity. First, an analytical method combining high resolution mass spectrometry and isotopically labeled secondary metabolites was developed. The method was validated with the well known metabolome of Aspergillus fumigatus before it was applied to F. graminearum. As a result, 37 new metabolites were identified such as fusaristatin A, C and D, which were detected for the first time in the metabolome of F. graminearum. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the major mycotoxins produced by this fungus. Therefore, its toxicity was compared to that of a blend of fusariotoxins in vivo in a pig model. The results of this study showed different effects of the blend compared to DON alone on animal performances and immune response. This suggests that some of the fusariotoxins present in the blend could be biologically active and their toxicity should be further investigated. Toxicity of the metabolome of F. graminearum has also been highlighted by the results of a second study which showed a possible implication of DON on the appearance of inflammatory bowel diseases by the action of Th17 lymphocytes.

The following contains two projects focused on the fungal pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum. The first project was purely computational in the examination of transposable elements (TEs), which are mobile sequences with the ability to multiply and move in their host genome. In F. oxysporum, TEs such as miniature impala elements are associated with the secreted in xylem gene that are related to its virulence over its host. The F. oxysporum species complex can be utilized as a model system for the examination of TE content and TE expression during the infection cycle. To find whether TEs play a role in the infection process and if their expression changes when fungi are in planta, a comparison was made using RNA-seq data from a pathogenic (Fo5176) and a non-pathogenic strain (Fo47) of F. oxysporum interacting with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Complementary to this, the copy numbers of the same TEs were calculated in the two aforementioned strains and in F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici 4287 (Fo4287) to find if there was a correlation between expression and copy number. Using these two different datasets together showed that TE expression and copy number are lower in the non-pathogenic strain and unlinked in the infection course. The second project examined the growth inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum isolates Fo32931 (the isolate pathogenic to immunocompromised humans) and Fo4287 with the use of extracts from chilies of Capsicum chinense. Pepper plants were grown from seed and the peppers were harvested for an ethanol (100%) extraction. After preparation, the optical density of growth of the F. oxysporum isolates was measured for a 48-hour period with 96-well plate containing varying concentrations of the extracts and controls. Growth curves were analyzed and normalized to a growth control. After doing High Performance Liquid Chromatography, an estimated concentration of capsaicin (the causal agent of the burning sensation from hot chilis) was established. A correlation between the amount of growth inhibition and the concentration of capsaicin was made. Taken together, the data suggests that an increase of capsaicin concentration in extracts is correlated with reduced growth for the two tested isolates of F. oxysporum.

Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology) / Wheat is a key global commodity in terms of acreage and tradeable value and as a staple in household diets. Many factors including biotic stress conditions have detrimental effects on global wheat production and yield. The increasing prevalence of biotic stress inflicted by fungal species such as Fusarium has significantly reduced yield and quality of cereal crops thus, threatening sustainable agriculture and food security. Interactions between wheat and Fusarium spp. such as Fusarium proliferatum triggers the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to levels toxic to the plant thus leading to oxidative damage and ultimate cellular death. In order to maintain redox homeostasis, plants rely on ROS-scavenging antioxidants (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) to control ROS molecules to levels less toxic to plants. This study investigated the impact of F. proliferatum on the physio-biochemical responses of two wheat cultivars (SST 015 and SST 088). Changes in seed germination, growth, biomass, chlorophyll and mineral contents were monitored. Furthermore, changes in ROS accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activity was measured in the shoots of both wheat cultivars.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / William T. Schapaugh Jr / Fusarium virguliforme, the soilborne fungus which causes sudden death syndrome (SDS) of soybean, and Heterodera glycines Ichinohe, soybean cyst nematode (SCN), are two economically important pathogens in the Midwest. The pathogens are often found together in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) fields. This study was conducted to determine the effect of soybean genotype, F. virguliforme populations, and H. glycines populations have upon yield and to examine the interaction between the two pathogens. In 2008 and 2009, four genotypes with different levels of resistance to SDS and H. glycines were planted at seven environments. F. virguliforme and H. glycines soil populations were quantified at planting, midseason, and harvest. At the end of the growing season, area under the disease progress curves of SDS, F. virguliforme root populations, and H. glycines reproductive indices were determined and plots harvested for seed yield. Soil populations of F. virguliforme and H. glycines at planting, midseason, and harvest varied across environments. Within environments, generally, they were not significantly different. Seed yield varied within and across environments. As disease pressure increased, the performance of resistant genotypes increased compared to susceptible genotypes. Genotypes resistant to SDS yielded higher than susceptible genotypes. There were negative correlations between yield and disease rating and F. virguliforme root populations. F. virguliforme soil populations and H. glycines populations at planting were positively correlated. It is important to manage both SDS and H. glycines in fields with a history of the two diseases. This can be achieved through genetic resistance. Information in this study will improve decisions regarding genotype selection to minimize losses to SDS and H. glycines.

Doubled haploidy (DH) is a plant breeding technique that is often utilized by plant breeders to minimize the time required to reach homozygosity in breeding lines. The first objective of this study was to compare two methods of generating DH lines in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Inbred burley tobacco varieties TN 90LC and GR 149LC were used to produce both androgenic derived doubled haploids (ADDH) and maternally derived doubled haploids (MDDH). The relative agronomic performance of TN 90LC and GR 149 LC ADDH and MDDH lines was compared when used either as pure-line cultivars or when used for the production of the KT 204LC and TN 97LC hybrid cultivars, respectively. The ADDH method was more efficient than the MDDH method in generating large numbers of haploid plants. On average the ADDH TN 90LC population was statistically inferior to the inbred TN 90LC for several agronomic traits; this inferiority of the ADDH method was not observed in the GR 149LC populations. For both genotypes, the MDDH populations were comparable to the inbred parental genotypes. The ADDH method was inferior for TN 90LC, but several individual TN 90LC ADDH lines were equal or superior to the inbred source. The agronomic variability observed in both ADDH and MDDH lines was decreased when they were used to produce hybrid cultivars. Less variation was observed in the DH-derived hybrids KT 204LC and TN 97LC compared to the ADDH and MDDH TN90LC and GR149LC parental lines, respectively. The significant inferiority of ADDH TN 90 lines in comparison to inbred TN 90LC was not observed in the ADDH derived KT 204 population compared to KT 204LC. The second objective of this study was to compare DH Lines derived from an F1 breeding population versus DH lines derived from a segregating F2 population where plants used for DH were pre-screened for quantitatively inherited resistance to soil-borne diseases black shank (Phytophthora nicotianae) and/or Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. nicotianae). There was a clear difference in susceptibility to black shank between the F1 and F2 derived DH populations, both in terms of average disease incidence, and more importantly, in the percentage of individual lines displaying high disease resistance. For two different burley crosses, DH lines derived from the F1 generation were considerably more susceptible to black shank than DH lines derived from the F2 generation. No differences in the incidence of Fusarium wilt were observed between DH lines of F1 and F2 generations; this was likely due to low overall disease incidence. Although delaying the DH process in tobacco from the F1 to the F2 generation could add time to the development of homozygous breeding lines, the delay may be offset by having to screen fewer finished DH lines to identify superior lines.