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Abstract
We report on the molecular and morphological characterization of a novel type B trichothecene toxin-producing species (i.e. B clade) recovered from litter in a maize field near Wellington, New Zealand, which is described as Fusarium praegraminearum sp. nov. This species was initially identified as F. acuminatum based on morphological characters. However, it differs from this species by producing longer, slightly asymmetrically curved macroconidia in which the apical cell is not as pointed and by its much faster colony growth rate on agar. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of portions of 13 genes resolved F. praegraminearum as the most basal species within the B clade. Mycotoxin analyses demonstrated that it was able to produce 4-acetylnivalenol and 4,15-diacetylnivalenol trichothecenes, the nontrichothecene sesquiterpenes culmorin and hydroxy-culmorins, and the estrogen zearalenone in vitro. Results of a pathogenicity experiment revealed that F. praegraminearum induced moderate head blight on wheat.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Jennifer M. Teresi for assistance conducting the pathogenicity experiment, Deborah S. Shane for the toxin analyses, Thomas Usgaard for designing and validating the Luminex probes for Fusarium praegraminearum, and Nathane Orwig and Amy McGovern for running the Sanger and Illumina MiSeq sequence data at NCAUR. We also thank Adrienne Stanton and the PDD herbarium for the loan of type material. TG is especially indebted to Dilantha Fernando at the Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba for supporting the morphological studies in his laboratory. Mention of trade names or commercial products in thisPUBLICation is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.