Presencia de Fusarium graminearum en muestras de trigo destinado al consumo humano

ResumenLa fusariosis es una de las enfermedades más importantes de los cereales, Fusarium graminearum es su principal agente etiológico. Este hongo posee la capacidad de producir distintos tipos y niveles de toxinas, en especial deoxinivalenol (DON). En la campaña 2012–2013 se dieron condiciones ambientales predisponentes para el desarrollo de esta enfermedad. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la presencia del hongo y el contenido de DON en 50 muestras de trigo. Los resultados demostraron la presencia de Fusarium graminearum en el 80 % de las muestras analizadas. El 24 % de las muestras presentó valores de DON ≥ 1μg/g, el 26 % varió entre 0,5 y 0,99μg/g, mientras que el 50 % restante mostró valores inferiores a 0,5μg/g. Se observó correlación entre la presencia de Fusarium graminearum y de DON. Es necesario establecer valores límites de DON en granos de trigo destinados al consumo humano.AbstractOne of the most important diseases in cereal crops is Fusarium head blight, being Fusarium graminearum the main etiological agent. This fungus has the ability to produce a wide spectrum and quantity of toxins, especially deoxynivalenol (DON). During the last crop season (2012–2013) the climatic conditions favored Fusarium colonization. The objective of this work was to determine the presence of this fungus as well as the DON content in 50 wheat grain samples. Our results showed that 80% of the samples were contaminated with Fusarium graminearum. Twenty four percent (24%) of the samples contained ≥ 1μg/g DON, 26% ranged from 0,5 and 0,99μg/g, and the remaining 50% had values lower than 0,5μg/g. Correlation was found between the presence of Fusarium graminearum and DON. It is necessary to establish DON limit values in wheat grains for human consumption

Virulence and enzymatic activity of three new isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) from the South American locust Schistocerca cancellata (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Schistocerca cancellata is a large-sized acridid, which has historically represented the greatest agricultural problem in southern South America, causing serious economic losses. Since 2015 S. cancellata entered in a state of outbreak condition of historical proportions, producing frequent and large swarms of up to 25 km² in the north and central region of Argentina and areas of neigh boring Bolivia and Paraguay. At present, chemical insecticides are still the only means available for the control of S. cancellata. We analyzed under laboratory conditions the effectiveness of three fungal strains of Beauveria bassiana isolated from S. cancellata and also determined the relationship between chitinase, protease, and lipase levels at different temperatures of these fungi and their insecticidal activities. The pathogenicity assays were carried out by the sprayed method with concentrations of 1 × 10⁴, 1 × 10⁶ and 1 × 10⁸ conidia/ml. We observed that isolate LPSc 1227 caused the highest mortality at each dose studied, ranging from 100% at a dose of 1 × 10⁸ conidia/ml to 33.3 ± 3.2% at the lowest dose of 1 × 10⁴ conidia/ml. Moreover, in this isolate the highest values of chitinolytic and proteolytic activity were recorded (2.31 ± 0.31 and 1.78 ± 0.04), respectively

Short communication: Presence of Fusarium graminearum sensu stricto associated with triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) in Argentina

Aim of study: To report the occurrence of Fusarium graminearum sensu stricto (s.s.) on triticale grains from field samples in Argentina and the potential mycotoxin production for these isolates.Area of study: Buenos Aires province, ArgentinaMaterial and methods: A total of 40 samples from different crops (barley, rye, triticale, and wheat) showing Fusarium head blight symptoms were taken during 2017/2018 harvest season. Colonies with colour and mycelium similar to Fusarium were taken and were morphologically and molecularly identified. The potential to produce deoxynivalenol, 15-acetyl deoxynivalenol and zearalenones was determined. Also, the Koch´s postulates were used to evaluate the pathogenic capacity of the F. graminearum s.s. isolates in triticale.Main results: Two Fusarium isolates were identified morphologically as F. graminearum, which were confirmed molecularly by PCR using the specific Fg16 F/R primers pair and by sequencing red and tri101 genes. The sequences obtained were compared with those available in the NCBI database using BLAST tools, showing 99-100% homology with those belonging to F. graminearum s.s. The results demonstrated that F. graminearum s.s. isolates were pathogenic when triticale spikes were inoculated by spraying under greenhouse conditions.Research highlights: To our knowledge, this is the first time that the presence of F. graminearum s.s. is reported associated with triticale in Argentina

First record of Talaromyces udagawae in soil related to decomposing human remains in Argentina

The morphologic features of Talaromyces udagawae Stolk and Samson are here described and illustrated. This teleomorphic Ascomycota fungus was isolated from soil obtained in Buenos Aires province (Argentina) from beneath a human cadaver in an advanced state of decomposition. After washing and serial dilution of the soil along with moist-chamber techniques for fungal cultivation, T. udagawae formed very restricted colonies of bright yellow color on different growth media with 8-ascospored asci. The ascospores were ellipsoidal and ornamented. The anamorphic state was not observed. Molecular-genetic techniques identified the species. The present record is the first of the species in Argentina, pointing it as a tool to identify soils where cadaver decomposition occurs.Se describen e ilustran las características morfológicas de Talaromyces udagawae Stolk y Samson. Se aisló el estado teleomórfico de este hongo Ascomycota de suelo obtenido en la provincia de Buenos Aires (Argentina), por debajo de un cadáver humano en avanzado estado de descomposición. Las muestras de suelo fueron analizadas mediante lavado, dilución seriada y cámaras húmedas, técnicas ampliamente usadas para el estudio de hongos de suelo. T. udagawae formó colonias muy restringidas de color amarillo brillante en diferentes medios de cultivo, con ascos con 8 ascosporas. Las ascosporas eran elipsoidales y ornamentadas. No fue hallado el estado anamórfico. La especie también fue identificada mediante técnicas moleculares. El presente registro es el primero de la especie en la Argentina y el único que la postula como herramienta para identificar suelos donde ocurre una descomposición cadavérica

Endophytic fungi from selected varieties of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) and corn (Zea mays L.) grown in an agricultural area of Argentina

Endophytic fungi are ubiquitous and live within host plants without causing any noticeable symptoms of disease. Little is known about the diversity and function of fungal endophytes in plants, particularly in economically important species. The aim of this study was to determine the identity and diversity of endophytic fungi in leaves, stems and roots of soybean and corn plants and to determine their infection frequencies. Plants were collected in six areas of the provinces of Buenos Aires and Entre Ríos (Argentina) two areas were selected for sampling corn and four for soybean. Leaf, stem and root samples were surface-sterilized, cut into 1 cm2 pieces using a sterile scalpel and aseptically transferred to plates containing potato dextrose agar plus antibiotics. The species were identified using both morphological and molecular data. Fungal endophyte colonization in soybean plants was influenced by tissue type and varieties whereas in corn plants only by tissue type. A greater number of endophytes were isolated from stem tissues than from leaves and root tissues in both species of plants. The most frequently isolated species in all soybean cultivars was Fusarium graminearum and the least isolated one was Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. Furthermore, the most frequently isolated species in corn plants was Aspergillus terreus whereas the least isolated one was Aspergillus flavus. These results could be relevant in the search for endophytic fungi isolates that could be of interest in the control of agricultural pests.Los hongos endófitos son ubicuos y se encuentran en el interior de los tejidos de las plantas de manera asintomática. Se sabe muy poco acerca de la diversidad y la función de estos hongos, particularmente en especies de importancia económica. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la diversidad y la frecuencia de colonización de hongos endófitos en raíces, tallos y hojas de 2 variedades de maíz y de 4 variedades de soja; las muestras se tomaron de 6 áreas diferentes ubicadas en las provincias de Buenos Aires y Entre Ríos (Argentina). Con un bisturí estéril se obtuvieron porciones de 1 cm2 de raíz, tallo y hoja, que fueron colocados en placas con agar papa dextrosa más antibiótico. Las especies de hongos fueron identificadas a partir de características morfológicas y moleculares. La colonización de hongos endófitos en soja estuvo influenciada por la variedad y por el tipo de tejido, en tanto que en el maíz solo hubo influencia del tipo de tejido. El mayor número de endófitos se encontró en los tallos de ambas especies. El aislamiento más frecuente en todas las variedades de soja fue Fusarium graminearum y el menos frecuente Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. En ambas variedades de maíz la especie con mayor frecuencia de aislamiento fue Aspergillus terreus y la de menor fue Aspergillus flavus. Estos resultados son relevantes para la búsqueda de especies de hongos endófitos que podrían ser de interés en el control de plagas agrícolas

M I C R O B I O L O G Í A Endophytic fungi from selected varieties of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) and corn (Zea mays L.) grown in an agricultural area of Argentina Endophytic fungi from selected varieties of soybean and corn grown in Argentina PALABRAS

Abstract Endophytic fungi are ubiquitous and live within host plants without causing any noticeable symptoms of disease. Little is known about the diversity and function of fungal endophytes in plants, particularly in economically important species. The aim of this study was to determine the identity and diversity of endophytic fungi in leaves, stems and roots of soybean and corn plants and to determine their infection frequencies. Plants were collected in six areas of the provinces of Buenos Aires and Entre Ríos (Argentina) two areas were selected for sampling corn and four for soybean. Leaf, stem and root samples were surface-sterilized, cut into 1 cm 2 pieces using a sterile scalpel and aseptically transferred to plates containing potato dextrose agar plus antibiotics. The species were identified using both morphological and molecular data. Fungal endophyte colonization in soybean plants was influenced by tissue type and varieties whereas in corn plants only by tissue type. A greater number of endophytes were isolated from stem tissues than from leaves and root tissues in both species of plants. The most frequently isolated species in all soybean cultivars was Fusarium graminearum and the least isolated one was Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. Furthermore, the most frequently isolated species in corn plants was Aspergillus terreus whereas the least isolated one was Aspergillus flavus. These results could be relevant in the search for endophytic fungi isolates that could be of interest in the control of agricultural pests

Leaf anatomy of medicinal shrubs and trees from Misiones forest of the Paranaense Province (Argentina): Part 2 Anatomía foliar de arbustos y árboles medicinales de la Selva Misionera de la provincia Paranaense (Argentina): Parte 2

The present paper contains the study of the second part of medicinal shrubs and trees from Paranaense province. Forty five species of shrubs and trees belonging to 29 families inhabiting Misiones forest of the Paranaense biogeographic province (Argentina) have been cited with medicinal properties. The work provides illustrations of diagnostic characters and conclusions of the main botanical differential traits, such as the presence of crystaliferous epidermis (e.g. Trixis divaricata subsp. divaricata); stomata and trichomes types (e. g. ciclocytic stomata in Pilocarpus pennatifolius and scale peltate trichomes in Tabebuia heptaphylla); midvein transection outlines (e.g. midvein convex and keel-shaped on the adaxial side in Schinus weinmanniifolia); presence and types of crystals (e.g. crystal sand in Cordia ecalyculata, raphides in Psychotria carthagenensis). This paper also gives an ecological interpretation of the species studied which shows predominantly a combination of mesomorphic (e.g. hypostomatic leaves, dorsiventral mesophyll) and xeromorphic leaf traits (e.g. thick cuticle, abundant sclerenchyma, multilayered epidermis, mesophyll formed exclusively by palisade parenchyma, multilayered hypodermis, presence of sclereids). Only two species (Ilex paraguariensis and Manihot grahamii) have mesomorphic (e.g. hypostomatic leaves, dorsiventral mesophyll) and hygromorphic leaf characters (e.g. epidermis glabrous). Finally, the work provides a key to distinguish 107 medicinal shrubs and trees from the Paranaense biogeographic province (Part 1: Gallery forests and Part 2: Misiones forest) that permit identified species using anatomy leaf characteristics.El presente trabajo corresponde a la segunda entrega del estudio de arbustos y árboles medicinales de la provincia biogeografica Paranaense. En esta parte, se analizaron 45 especies contenidas en 29 familias que habitan la Selva Misionera y han sido citadas con propiedades medicinales. El trabajo se acompaña con ilustraciones y se brinda una conclusión de los caracteres diagnósticos, tales como la presencia de epidermis cristalífera (e.g. Trixis divaricata subsp. divaricata); los tipos de estomas (e.g. ciclocíticos en Pilocarpus pennatifolius); y de tricomas (e.g. escamosos peltados en Tabebuia heptaphylla); el contorno de la vena media (e.g. convexa y aquillada en la cara adaxial en Schinus weinmanniifolia); la presencia y tipo de cristales (e.g. arena cristalina en Cordia ecalyculata, rafidios en Psychotria carthagenensis). También se provee una interpretación ecológica de las especies estudiadas cuyas hojas presentaron predominantemente una combinación de caracteres mesomórficos (e.g. hojas hipostomáticas, mesofilo dorsiventral) y xeromórficos (e.g. cutícula gruesa, esclerénquima abundante, epidermis pluriseriada, mesofilo indiferenciado en empalizada, hipodermis pluriseriada, esclereidas idioblásticas). Solamente dos especies, Ilex paraguariensis y Manihot grahamii, presentaron combinados caracteres mesomórficos (entre otros, hojas hipostomáticas y mesofilo dorsiventral) e higromórficos (epidermis glabra). Finalmente, se provee una clave para la diferenciación de 107 especies de arbustos y árboles medicinales, de la provincia biogeográfica Paranaense (Parte 1: Selvas en Galería y Parte 2: Selva Misionera) que permite identificar las especies utilizando caracteres anatómicos de la hoja