Wheat kernel black point and fumonisin contamination by Fusarium proliferatum

Abstract

Fusarium proliferatum is a major cause of maize ear rot and fumonisin contamination and also can cause wheat kernel black point disease. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether nine F. proliferatum strains from wheat from Nepal can cause black point and fumonisin contamination in wheat kernels. For comparison, the study included three Fusarium strains from US maize. In test 1, all the strains but one produced significant symptoms of kernel black point; two strains decreased kernel yield; and four strains contaminated kernels with fumonisins B₁, B₂ and B₃ as determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Strain Ggm202 from Nepal, which produced the highest levels of fumonisins (mean = 49 µg g⁻¹) on five wheat cultivars in test 1, was confirmed to produce fumonisins (mean = 38 µg g⁻¹) on two cultivars in test 2. The data indicate a potential for fumonisin contamination of wheat infected with F. proliferatum.

Keywords:

• Wheat
• durum
• Fusarium proliferatum
• black point disease
• fumonisins

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Stephanie Folmar, Marcie Moore, Nathaniel Puent and Debra Shane for technical assistance. Mention of trade names or commercial products herein is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture.