Diaporthaceae associated with root and crown rot of maize.

Several isolates of coelomycetous fungi with pigmented conidia were consistently isolated from diseased roots of Zea mays in irrigated plots monitored in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. Based on their morphology, these isolates could be identified as representative of Stenocarpella macrospora, S. maydis, and Phaeocytostroma ambiguum.

Fusarium ananatum sp. nov. in the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex from pineapples with fruit rot in South Africa.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is native to South America and widely planted as a fruit crop in the tropics and sub-tropics. This plant is susceptible to a number of fungal diseases of which the most severe is fusariosis. The disease is caused by Fusarium guttiforme and occurs only in South and Central America.

Molecular characterization of Fusarium globosum strains from South African maize and Japanese wheat.

The fungus Fusarium globosum was first isolated from maize in South Africa and subsequently from wheat in Japan. Here, multiple analyses revealed that, despite morphological similarities, South African maize and Japanese wheat isolates of the fungus exhibit multiple differences. An amplified fragment length polymorphism-based similarity index for the two groups of isolates was only 45%.

Toxicity, pathogenicity, and genetic differentiation of five species of fusarium from sorghum and millet.

ABSTRACT Fusarium isolates recovered from sorghum and millet are commonly identified as F. moniliforme, but with the recognition of new species in this group, the strains given this name are being re-evaluated. We analyzed five strains each from five Fusarium species (F.

Phylogenetic lineages in the Botryosphaeriaceae.

Botryosphaeria is a species-rich genus with a cosmopolitan distribution, commonly associated with dieback and cankers of woody plants. As many as 18 anamorph genera have been associated with Botryosphaeria, most of which have been reduced to synonymy under Diplodia (conidia mostly ovoid, pigmented, thick-walled), or Fusicoccum (conidia mostly fusoid, hyaline, thin-walled). However, there are numerous conidial anamorphs having morphological characteristics intermediate between Diplodia and Fusicoccum, and there are several records of species outside the Botryosphaeriaceae that have anamorphs apparently typical of Botryosphaeria s.

Incidence of Fusarium verticillioides and levels of fumonisins in corn from main production areas in Iran.

A total of 52 corn samples collected in 2000 from four main corn production provinces of Iran (Fars, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, and Mazandaran) were analyzed for contamination with Fusarium verticillioides and fumonisins (FB(1), FB(2), FB(3), and 3-epi-FB(3)). The mean incidence of F. verticillioides (percent of kernels infected) for these four areas was 26.

The application of high-throughput AFLP's in assessing genetic diversity in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense.

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is responsible for fusarium wilt of bananas.

Fumonisin mycotoxins in traditional Xhosa maize beer in South Africa.

The production and consumption of home-brewed Xhosa maize beer is a widespread traditional practice in the former Transkei region of South Africa. HPLC determination of fumonisins B1 (FB1), B2 (FB2), and B3 (FB3) in maize beer samples collected in two magisterial areas, Centane and Bizana, showed a wide range of levels. All samples were positive for FB(1), with a mean level of 281 +/- 262 ng/mL and a range from 38 to 1066 ng/mL.

Do fumonisin mycotoxins occur in wheat?

The fumonisin mycotoxins are mainly produced by the fungi Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum, which are both field pathogens of maize. The natural occurrence of fumonisins has been verified in maize and a large range of maize-based products in many countries of the world. However, occasional reports have emerged of fumonisins being detected in wheat, despite the main producing fungi not being pathogens of this cereal.

Production of fumonisin B and C analogues by several fusarium species.

Six strains of Fusarium verticillioides, two of F. oxysporum, one strain of F. proliferatum, and a strain of an unidentified species were cultured on maize patties and rice and evaluated for their ability to simultaneously produce fumonisin B (FB) and C (FC) series analogues.

Fumonisin production by Fusarium species isolated from freshly harvested corn in Iran.

Fifty-one strains of Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum isolated from corn collected from four different geographic areas in Iran, namely Fars, Khuzestan, Kermanshah and Mazandaran (an endemic oesophageal cancer (OC) area) were evaluated for their ability to produce fumonisins B1 (FB1), B2 (FB2) and B3 (FB3) in corn culture. Fumonisin levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Effect of essential oils on the growth of Fusarium verticillioides and fumonisin contamination in corn.

Essential oils extracted by hydrodistillation from local plants in Benin, western Africa, and oil from seeds of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) were evaluated in vitro and in vivo for their efficacy against Fusarium verticillioides infection and fumonisin contamination. Fumonisin in corn was quantified using a fluorometer and the Vicam method. Oils from Cymbopogon citratus, Ocimum basilicum, and Ocimum gratissimum were the most effective in vitro, completely inhibiting the growth of F.

Production of fumonisins by Fusarium verticillioides strains on solid and in a defined liquid medium--effects of L-methionine and inoculum.

In order to evaluate the toxicological and carcinogenic effects of fumonisins, large amounts of fumonisins need to be purified, which requires optimal conditions for production in culture. Five strains of F. verticillioides were compared for their ability to produce fumonisins in solid and liquid media with and without the addition of methionine, a fumonisin precursor.

Fumonisins disrupt sphingolipid metabolism, folate transport, and neural tube development in embryo culture and in vivo: a potential risk factor for human neural tube defects among populations consuming fumonisin-contaminated maize.

Fumonisins are a family of toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides (formerly Fusarium moniliforme), a common fungal contaminant of maize. Fumonisins inhibit ceramide synthase, causing accumulation of bioactive intermediates of sphingolipid metabolism (sphinganine and other sphingoid bases and derivatives) as well as depletion of complex sphingolipids, which interferes with the function of some membrane proteins, including the folate-binding protein (human folate receptor alpha). Fumonisin causes neural tube and craniofacial defects in mouse embryos in culture.

Fumonisin B1-induced hepatocellular and cholangiocellular tumors in male Fischer 344 rats: potentiating effects of 2-acetylaminofluorene on oval cell proliferation and neoplastic development in a discontinued feeding study.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a naturally occurring mycotoxin produced by Fusarium verticillioides. Dietary exposure to FB1 has been linked to human cancer in certain parts of the world, and treatment with FB1 causes oval cell proliferation and liver tumors in rats. To study the potential role of oval (liver progenitor) cells in the cellular pathogenesis of FB1-induced liver tumors, we gave male F344 rats prolonged treatment with FB1 for 25 weeks, followed by return to control diet until 50 weeks ('stop study').

Fumonisin contamination and fusarium incidence in corn from Santa Catarina, Brazil.

In Brazil, the southern region has the highest incidence of esophageal cancer and also the highest production and consumption of corn (Zea mays) products. Corn samples intended for human consumption from the western, northern, and southern regions of the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, had mean total fumonisin B (B(1), B(2), and B(3)) levels of 3.2, 3.

Fumonisin mycotoxins in human hair.

This study shows for the first time the accumulation of fumonisin mycotoxins in human hair of population clusters exposed to contaminated maize, and thus the feasibility of human hair analysis for the assessment of past fumonisin exposure. Composite hair samples were obtained from the Bizana, Butterworth and Centane districts within the Transkei region of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Following methanol extraction and strong anion exchange clean up, the fumonisins FB(1), FB(2) and FB(3) were detected using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS).

Improving extraction of fumonisin mycotoxins from Brazilian corn-based infant foods.

The current AOAC International methods for the determination of fumonisins have been validated for corn and cornflakes but have produced low recoveries and high variability when applied to processed corn products for infants. Hence, an investigation was undertaken to improve the extraction efficiency for fumonisins by investigating the use of different extraction solvents. Corn-based infant foods containing cornmeal, corn starch, and corn flour were purchased in the city of Campinas, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and were analyzed for fumonisins B1 (FB1), B2 (FB2), and B3 (FB3) following extraction with a range of solvents.

Mycoflora and fumonisin mycotoxins associated with cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] seeds.

Cowpea seed samples from South Africa and Benin were analyzed for seed mycoflora. Fusariumspecies detected were F. equiseti, F.

Cancer patterns in four districts of the Transkei region--1991-1995.

Background: Oesophageal cancer (OC) is an important public health problem among the Xhosa-speaking people of the Transkei region in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, with incidence rates for males among the highest in the world.

Objectives: To record the occurrence of cancer among men and women of all ages in four districts in the Transkei during the period 1991-1995, to identify common cancers and to compare the variations in cancer incidences in this region with incidences in Africa and the rest of the world.

Design: Cancer registration of cases reported from all clinics and hospitals was conducted in the four selected districts.

Cryptic speciation in Fusarium subglutinans.

Fusarium isolates that form part of the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex have been classified using either a morphological, biological, or phylogenetic species concept. Problems with the taxonomy of Fusarium species in this complex are mostly experienced when the morphological and biological species concepts are applied. The most consistent identifications are obtained with the phylogenetic species concept.

Two new species of Fusarium section Liseola associated with mango malformation.

Mango malformation is an economically important disease of Mangifera indica globally. A recent DNA-based study indicated that two distinct, phylogenetic lineages previously identified as Fusarium subglutinans are associated with this disease in South Africa. The objective of this study was to characterize Fusarium isolates associated with mango malformation, including the two different F.