Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/15
Outputs Target Audience: Target groups include corn growers in Arkansas and other states in the southern U.S., as well as the international mycotoxin research community. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project has provided training opportunities for graduate students, post-doctoral assocites, and undergraduate researchers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, internet-based media, presentations at grower meetings, and directly to growers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts What was accomplished under these goals?
BDM1 of Fusarium graminearum was identified and characterized. This gene regulates pathogenesis during infection ofwheat and maize. It also regulates the biosynthesis of deoxynivalenol, an important trichothecene mycotoxin. FUG1 of Fusariumverticillioides was identified. Functional characterization of this novel gene suggests it represents a new class of fungal transcription factors. FUG1 regulated maize kernel infection and fumonisin biosynthesis. Interestingly, FUG1 also is required for defense against anti-microbial compounds produced during the maize defense reaction. The HAP regulatory complex ofFusariumverticillioideswas functionally characterized. A key component of the complex, HAP3, was deleted and mutants were characterized. The HAP complex is required for pathogenesis of corn kernels and stalks. Importantly, the HAP complex is also required for fumonisin biosynthesis. A genome sequence was obtained for Stenocarpella maydis, cause of Diplodia ear rot of corn. After functional annotation of predicted genes, emphasis was placed on identifying secondary metabolite clusters, with particular focus on clusters associated with mycotoxin production. Surveys of fungi associated with head mold in Arkansas indicated that sorghum grain was consistently infected with a range of Fusarium species, many of which were capable of producing various mycotoxins. Interestingly, a majority of the Fusarium fungi identified were F. equisiti (or close relatives), which produce a suite of mycotoxins, some of which have not yet drawn widespread public notice. Information derived from this project has been used to create experimental plant transgenes that target mycotoxin biosynthesis. Transgenic corn plants have been created and propigatged. Testing the efficacy of the transgenes will be beyond the scope of the current project'sreporting period.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Horevaj P, and Bluhm BH. 2012. BDM1 of Fusarium graminearum regulates virulence during infection of wheat and maize. Molecular Plant Pathology DOI: 10.1111/j.1364-3703.2011.00758.x.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Ridenour J, Bluhm BH. 201-. The novel fungal-specific gene FUG1 has a role in pathogenicity and fumonisin biosynthesis in Fusarium verticillioides. Molecular Plant Pathology
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Ridenour J, Smith J, Bluhm BH. 201-. The HAP complex of Fusarium verticillioides regulates fumonisin biosynthesis and kernel pathogenesis. Journal of Food Protection
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs Target Audience: Target groups include corn growers in Arkansas and other states in the southern U.S., as well as the international mycotoxin research community. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? PI Bluhm has further enhanced his knowledge and practical ability regarding bioinformatic analyses of fungal genome sequencing and assembly. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts What was accomplished under these goals?
The genome sequence data for Stenocarpella maydis was refined with a more complete assembly. This work was performed in close collaboration with other members of the multi-state working group (Dr. Charles Woloshuk, PurdueUniversity; Dr. Lisa J. Vaillancourt, University of Kentucky). This work produced a genome assembly that is comparable to published de novo genome sequences in other filamentous fungal pathogens.
Publications
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Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs Target Audience: Target groups include corn growers in Arkansas and other states in the southern U.S., as well as the international mycotoxin research community. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? PI Bluhm and the graduate student involved in the project have both learned new skills and techniques related to bioinformatics. The graduate student received hands-on training in genomic DNA extraction, analysis, and sequencing as well. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Pi Bluhm and the graduate student involved in the project traveled to Coker College (Hartsville, SC) to discuss the work to undergraduate students. Additionally, Bluhm and the graduate student participted in a DNA-based highschool out reach activity in Hartsville, SC. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts What was accomplished under these goals?
A substanial amount of genome sequence data was created and analyzed for Stenocarpella maydis. This work was performed in close collaboration with other members of the multi-state working group (Dr. Charles Woloshuk, Purdue University;Dr. Lisa J. Vaillancourt, University of Kentucky). Genome sequencing and assembly has facilitated the identification of potential mycotoxin biosynthetic gene clusters in the pathogen. This information is the first genome sequence information available for this fungus. The Bluhm lab also worked to characterize an insertional mutant of the pathogen created in the Woloshuk lab. These accomplishments represent the first molecular analyses of mycotoxin biosynthesis in S. maydis.
Publications
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs OUTPUTS: Efforts in Arkansas have focused on defining the regulation of mycotoxin biosynthesis and molecular relationships among mycotoxigenic fungi. To this end, we have been characterizing a CCAAT-binding, heterotrimeric transcription factor in Fusarium verticilliodes. Targeted disruption of any of the three genes encoding a core component yielded mutants with indistinguishable phenotypes, which included impairments in growth, conidiation, and pigmentation in culture. Pathogenesis on maize kernels and stalks was also substantially impaired. In addition to a reduction in growth, fumonisin levels were significantly lower than the wild-type or complemented strains after normalization to growth via ergosterol analysis. Homologs of these genes were deleted in Fusarium graminearum, and impairments in pathogenesis were observed. Phenotypic analyses of mutants in both species are ongoing. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Burt Bluhm: PI Mr. John Ridenour: Graduate student (M.S.) Mr. Jon Smith: Graduate student (Ph.D.) Dr. Charles Woloshuk: Collaborator (Purdue University) Dr. Won-Bo Shim: Collaborator (Texas A&M University) TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts The identification of a novel molecular mechanism underlying Fusarium diseases of corn and fumonisin biosynthesis provides the scientific community important information for ongoing studies focused on the molecular dissection of mycotoxin contamination of grain.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs OUTPUTS: Research outputs of this project include the molecular dissection of pathways underlying mycotoxin biosynthesis in Fusarium graminearum during colonization of corn and wheat. Teaching activities related to these efforts include the advisement of a post-doctoral associate who performed most of the research. Additionally, research findings were presented to regional, national and international audiences at scientific meetings. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Burt Bluhm: PI Dr. Peter Horevaj: Post-doctoral associate. Collaborating institution: Purdue University TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this work is the scientific community studying plant-fungal interactions and mycotoxigenesis, particularly diseases caused by Fusarium graminearum. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts Outcomes of this research include advancements in the fundamental understanding of how Fusarium graminearum interacts with its hosts at the molecular level, particularly with respect to the induction of mycotoxin biosynthesis. This new information can ultimately be incorporated into transgenic strategies to improve crop resistance.
Publications
- Horevaj P, and Bluhm BH. 2011. BDM1 of Fusarium graminearum regulates virulence during infection of wheat and maize. Molecular Plant Pathology DOI: 10.1111/j.1364-3703.2011.00758.x.
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs OUTPUTS: Consistent with Objective 3 (Define the regulation of mycotoxin biosynthesis and the molecular relationships among mycotoxigenic fungi), we surveyed grain sorghum in Arkansas to 1) identify and quantify mycotoxigenic fungi associated with head mold, and 2) to assess the mycotoxigenic potential of fungi isolated. We identified numerous mycotoxigenic Fusarium species, and determined that most isolates were capable of producing mycotoxins (i.e., fumonisins, trichothecenes) during colonization of sorghum heads. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included Dr. Burt Bluhm (PI), Dr. Peter Horevaj (Research associate), and Ms. Katie Crow (undergraduate student). TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts This activity contributed new knowledge regarding the potential threat of mycotoxin contamination of sorghum in Arkansas and identified specific mycotoxins that should be monitored in grain sorghum.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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