Maize-fusarium interactions: Tunisian insights into mycotoxin ecology.

Maize is a worldwide crop yet can be associated with mycotoxigenic fungi, much investigated in humid tropical and cooler, wet temperate regions. However, in hot, arid/semi-arid regions data on their occurrence are poor. In this paper, we focused on interactions between maize and Fusarium fungal species in Tunisia, which has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and milder, damper winters.

Endophytic and species associated to potato plants ( L.) in Iran and their capability to produce regulated and emerging mycotoxins.

Endophytic fungi live inside virtually every plant species, without causing any apparent disease or damage to the host. Nevertheless, under particular conditions, mutualistic lifestyle of endophytes may change to pathogenic. In this study, the biodiversity of and species, the two most abundant endophytic fungi isolated from healthy potato plants in two climatically different regions of Iran, Ardebil in the north-west and Kerman in the south-east, was investigated.

Phylogeny and mycotoxin profiles of pathogenic and species isolated from date palm in southern Tunisia.

Date palm ( L.), is a widely cultivated crop across North Africa, with about 300 thousand tons of fruits produced per year, in Tunisia. A wide range of fungal pathogens has been associated with leaf spots of date palm, species being the most frequently reported.

Deoxynivalenol and T-2 Toxin as Major Concerns in Durum Wheat from Italy.

Fusarium Head Blight is a devastating disease of wheat caused by a complex of species producing a wide range of mycotoxins. species occurrence is variable in different geographical areas and subjected to a continuous evolution in their distribution. A total of 141 durum wheat field samples were collected in different regions of Italy in three years, and analyzed for species and related mycotoxin occurrence.

Diversity of Species Isolated from Symptomatic Plants Belonging to a Wide Range of Agri-Food and Ornamental Crops in Lebanon.

Lebanon is a small Mediterranean country with different pedoclimatic conditions that allow the growth of both temperate and tropical plants. Currently, few studies are available on the occurrence and diversity of species on Lebanese crops. A wide population of strains was isolated from different symptomatic plants in the last 10 years.

Occurrence and Characterization of Species Isolated from Post-Harvest Apples in Lebanon.

The apple is one of the most important fruit tree crops in the Mediterranean region. Lebanon, in particular, is among the top apple producer countries in the Middle East; however, recently, several types of damage, particularly rot symptoms, have been detected on fruits in cold storage. This study aims to identify the causal agents of apple decay in Lebanese post-harvest facilities and characterize a set of 39 representative strains of the toxigenic fungus .

Plasma Technology Increases the Efficacy of Prothioconazole against and Contamination of Maize () Seedlings.

The contamination of maize by species able to produce mycotoxins raises great concern worldwide since they can accumulate these toxic metabolites in field crop products. Furthermore, little information exists today on the ability of and , two well know mycotoxigenic species, to translocate from the seeds to the plants up to the kernels. Marketing seeds coated with fungicide molecules is a common practice; however, since there is a growing need for reducing chemicals in agriculture, new eco-friendly strategies are increasingly tested.

Phylogeny and mycotoxin profile of Fusarium species isolated from sugarcane in Southern Iran.

Sugarcane is an important crop in Southern Iran for agri-food, energy, and pharmaceutical industries. Among the pathogens that colonize sugarcane, mycotoxigenic Fusarium species are reason of serious concern for both their pathogenicity on plants and ability to produce harmful mycotoxins to humans and animals. We studied 104 Fusarium strains, selected within a wider Fusarium set isolated from sugarcane in Southern Iran, for molecular identification, phylogeny and mycotoxin analyses.

Mycotoxin Profile and Phylogeny of Pathogenic Species Isolated from Symptomatic Tomato Plants in Lebanon.

The tomato is one of the most consumed agri-food products in Lebanon. Several fungal pathogens, including species, can infect tomato plants during the whole growing cycle. infections cause severe production and economic losses in field and during storage.

Genetic structure of Fusarium verticillioides populations from maize in Iran.

Fusarium verticillioides is one of the most important fungal pathogens of maize since it causes severe yield losses and produces the mycotoxins fumonisins that represent a major concern for human and animal health. Information about genetic diversity and population structure of fungal pathogens is essential for developing disease management strategies. The aim of this research was to investigate the genetic structure of F.

Phylogeny and Mycotoxin Profile of Pathogenic Species Isolated from Sudden Decline Syndrome and Leaf Wilt Symptoms on Date Palms () in Tunisia.

In 2017-2018, extensive symptoms of sudden decline and fruit rot were observed on date palms in southern Tunisia. Samples of diseased plants were randomly collected in six localities. Based on morphological identification, was the most frequent fungal genus detected.

First report of Leaf Wilt caused by and on Date Palm () in Tunisia.

Since 2017, a new leaf wilt syndrome was observed in plantations of date palm in Tunisia. Its incidence increases sharply from year to year, especially in 'Deglet Nour' trees, aged between 5 and 15 years. In severe cases, the large number of dried leaves per tree can lead to complete cessation of date production.

Molecular Identification and Mycotoxin Production by Species Occurring on Durum Wheat, Showing Black Point Symptoms.

Black point is a fungal disease of wheat, mainly associated with mycotoxigenic species. Affected wheat kernels are characterized by dark brown discolouration of the embryo region and reduction of grain quality. Potential risk is the possible accumulation of mycotoxins, alternariol (AOH), alternariol-monomethyl ether (AME), tenuazonic acid (TA), and altenuene (ALT), provided by haemato-toxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic activities.

Antagonistic activity of olive endophytic bacteria and of Bacillus spp. strains against Xylella fastidiosa.

Strains of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca characterized by a specific genotype, the so called sequence type "ST53", have been associated with a severe disease named Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS). Despite the relevant research efforts devoted to control the disease caused by X.

Alternaria species associated to wheat black point identified through a multilocus sequence approach.

Black point is one of the most important wheat disease and its incidence is increasing worldwide due to climate change too. Among the fungal genera that can cause black point, Alternaria is one of the predominant genus, often associated with mycotoxin contamination. The correct identification is the baseline for prevention and control of the disease.

In Vitro and in Field Response of Different Fungicides against and Species Causing Ear Rot Disease of Maize.

, the main aflatoxin B₁ producing fungal species, , a deoxynivalenol producer, and the fumonisin-producing species and are the main toxigenic fungi (TF) that colonize maize. Several strategies are available to control TF and related mycotoxins, such as chemical control. However, there is poor knowledge on the efficacy of fungicides on maize plants since few molecules are registered.

Phylogeny and Mycotoxin Characterization of Alternaria Species Isolated from Wheat Grown in Tuscany, Italy.

Wheat, the main source of carbohydrates worldwide, can be attacked by a wide number of phytopathogenic fungi, included species. species commonly occur on wheat worldwide and produce several mycotoxins such as tenuazonic acid (TA), alternariol (AOH), alternariol-monomethyl ether (AME), and altenuene (ALT), provided of haemato-toxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic activities. The contamination by species of wheat kernels, collected in Tuscany, Italy, from 2013 to 2016, was evaluated.

Molecular characterisation and detection of resistance to succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicides in Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea).

Background: Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs), interfering with fungal respiration, are considered to be fungicides at medium to high risk of resistance. Boscalid was the first molecule belonging to the SDHIs that was introduced for the control of Botryotinia fuckeliana. A range of different target-site mutations leading to boscalid resistance have been found in field populations of the fungus.

Occurrence of fungicide resistance in populations of Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea) on table grape and strawberry in southern Italy.

Background: Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea) is a pathogen with a high risk of development of resistance to fungicides. Fungicide resistance was monitored during 2008-2011 in B. fuckeliana populations from both table-grape vineyards and greenhouse-grown strawberries in southern Italy.

Genetic analysis and molecular characterisation of laboratory and field mutants of Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea) resistant to QoI fungicides.

Background: QoI fungicides, inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration, are considered to be at high risk of resistance development. In several phytopathogenic fungi, resistance is caused by mutations (most frequently G143A) in the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene. The genetic and molecular basis of QoI resistance were investigated in laboratory and field mutants of Botryotinia fuckeliana (de Bary) Whetz.