Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg (teleomorph Gibberella moniliformis Wineland) is a fungal pathogen of maize that causes ear rots and stalk rots worldwide. In addition, it produces a group of mycotoxins called fumonisins when the fungus colonizes maize and maize-based products. Fumonisin B1 (FB1), the predominant form occurring in nature, can cause detrimental health effects in animals and humans. Several efforts were made to study the host and pathogen factors that contribute to the production of fumonisins. Using the available genomic resources, three genes with a potential role in FB1 regulation and development were identified. The genes are GBP1, GBB1 and GAP1. This research describes molecular characterization of these genes with respect to regulation of FB1 and development in F. verticillioides. GBP1 is a monomeric GTP binding protein with similarity to DRG and Obg sub-classes of G-proteins. GBB1 encodes heterotrimeric GTP binding protein β subunit. GAP1 is a GPI (Glycophosphotidylinositol) anchored protein, which belongs to a family of cell wall proteins. Targeted deletion and complementation studies indicated that GBP1 is negatively associated with FB1 biosynthesis but had no effect on conidiation in F. verticillioides. GBB1 plays an important role in regulation of FB1 biosynthesis, conidiation and hyphal growth, but not virulence. GAP1 is associated with growth, development and conidiation but not in positive regulation of FB1 or pathogenicity. The outcome of this study revealed new molecular genetic components that will help scientists better understand signal transduction pathways that regulate FB1 biosynthesis and conidiation in F. verticillioides.

Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg (teleomorph Gibberella moniliformis Wineland) is a fungal pathogen of maize that causes ear rots and stalk rots worldwide. In addition, it produces a group of mycotoxins called fumonisins when the fungus colonizes maize and maize-based products. Fumonisin B1 (FB1), the predominant form occurring in nature, can cause detrimental health effects in animals and humans. Several efforts were made to study the host and pathogen factors that contribute to the production of fumonisins. Using the available genomic resources, three genes with a potential role in FB1 regulation and development were identified. The genes are GBP1, GBB1 and GAP1. This research describes molecular characterization of these genes with respect to regulation of FB1 and development in F. verticillioides. GBP1 is a monomeric GTP binding protein with similarity to DRG and Obg sub-classes of G-proteins. GBB1 encodes heterotrimeric GTP binding protein β subunit. GAP1 is a GPI (Glycophosphotidylinositol) anchored protein, which belongs to a family of cell wall proteins. Targeted deletion and complementation studies indicated that GBP1 is negatively associated with FB1 biosynthesis but had no effect on conidiation in F. verticillioides. GBB1 plays an important role in regulation of FB1 biosynthesis, conidiation and hyphal growth, but not virulence. GAP1 is associated with growth, development and conidiation but not in positive regulation of FB1 or pathogenicity. The outcome of this study revealed new molecular genetic components that will help scientists better understand signal transduction pathways that regulate FB1 biosynthesis and conidiation in F. verticillioides.

Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2017-07-26T14:00:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Nadja Gláucia de Melo Souza.pdf: 13497516 bytes, checksum: 9022b8a01973d688cc5a2d32ec30a609 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Secta BC (secta.csu.bc@uepb.edu.br) on 2017-08-29T15:30:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Nadja Gláucia de Melo Souza.pdf: 13497516 bytes, checksum: 9022b8a01973d688cc5a2d32ec30a609 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-29T15:30:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Nadja Gláucia de Melo Souza.pdf: 13497516 bytes, checksum: 9022b8a01973d688cc5a2d32ec30a609 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Maize seeds are susceptible to Fusarium spp., which cause rotting, damping off and corn kernel contamination by mycotoxins. Plants produce antimicrobial compounds that can be extracted and used as an alternative method in the management of diseases. The objective of this work was to obtain an alternative product, through the use of vegetal extracts associated with powders (rock powder, kaolin and ash) for the control of Fusarium spp. associated with maize seeds. For this, were evaluated the fungitoxicity of extracts of fruits of chilli pepper, eucalyptus leaves, black pepper fruits and neem leaves to Fusarium spp.; and the effect of the extracts on the germination of maize seeds. The tested plant extracts are fungitoxic to Fusarium spp. causing total inhibition of the growth of the pathogens from the concentration of 5%. The treatment of the seeds with the extracts (20%) did not cause decrease in germination, and the extract of chilli pepper promoted the germination of the seeds. The black pepper extract (10%) had fungitoxic effect to F. verticillioides (F159 and F311) in maize cv. Sertanejo. The extracts tested (10% and 20%) did not inhibit F. oxysporum (F01) in maize cv. Sertanejo. Black pepper extract + rock powder, solvent + rock powder and solvent + kaolin accelerated the germination of maize cv. Sertanejo. All formulations tested decreased the incidence of F. verticillioides F311 in maize var. Sertanejo. Extract of black pepper + rock powder and black pepper extract had a positive effect on the control of damping off caused by Fusarium spp., and ind in the seedling development. It is concluded that the alternative product formulated with black pepper extract + rock powder and the black pepper extract have potentiality to be used in the alternative control of Fusarium spp. in maize seeds. / Sementes de milho são suscetíveis a Fusarium spp., que causam o apodrecimento, tombamento das plântulas e a contaminação dos grãos por micotoxinas. Plantas produzem compostos antimicrobianos que podem ser extraídos e utilizados como método alternativo no manejo de doenças. O objetivo do trabalho foi obter um produto alternativo, por meio da utilização de extratos vegetais associados a pós (pó de rocha, caulim e cinza) para o controle de Fusarium spp. associados às sementes de milho. Para tanto, foi avaliada a fungitoxicidade de extratos de frutos de pimenta malagueta, folhas de eucalipto, frutos de pimenta do reino e folhas de neem a Fusarium spp.; e o efeito dos extratos na germinação de sementes de milho. Os extratos vegetais testados são fungitóxicos a Fusarium spp., causando inibição total do crescimento dos patógenos a partir da concentração de 5%. O tratamento das sementes com os extratos (20%) não causou diminuição da germinação, sendo que o extrato de pimenta malagueta promoveu a germinação das sementes. O extrato de pimenta do reino (10%) teve efeito fungitóxico a F. verticillioides (F159 e F311) em sementes de milho cv. Sertanejo. Os extratos testados (10% e 20%) não inibiram F. oxysporum (F01) nas sementes de milho cv. Sertanejo. Extrato de pimenta do reino + pó de rocha, solvente + pó de rocha e solvente + caulim aceleraram a germinação das sementes de milho cv. Sertanejo. Todas as formulações testadas diminuíram a incidência de F. verticillioides F311 nas sementes de milho var. Sertanejo. Extrato de pimenta do reino + pó de rocha e extrato de pimenta do reino tiveram efeito positivo no controle do tombamento causado por Fusarium spp.; e na promoção de desenvolvimento das plântulas. Conclui-se que o produto alternativo formulado com extrato de pimenta do reino + pó de rocha e o extrato de pimenta do reino têm potencialidade para serem utilizados no controle alternativo de Fusarium spp. em sementes de milho.