Fumonisin-producing Fusarium species causing ear rot of corn in the Philippines
2016
Pascual, C.B. | Barcos, A.K.S. | Mandap, J.A.L. | Ocampo, E.T.M.
A wide occurrence of corn ear rot caused by Fusarium species has been observed in the last few years in many corn-growing areas in the Philippines. The disease caused by Fusarium species produces fumonisins, a family of mycotoxins causing fatal diseases in animals and human. No local studies on Fusarium ear rot of corn contaminated with fumonisins have been done. Hence, this study was conducted to identify Fusarium infecting corn in different corn-growing regions by conventional and molecular methods and to determine accurately the Fusarium isolates producing fumonisins using specific primers by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Three hundred isolates of Fusarium were extracted into pure culture from the collections in various corn-growing regions in the Philippines. The isolates were characterized based on morphological traits, ELISA test and PCR assay. F. verticillioides was the predominant Fusarium species that produced fumonisin observed in the corn-growing areas of the Philippines. Also observed were one F. proliferatum isolate and three F. graminearum isolates. Twenty out of the 254 F. verticillioides isolates collected were non-producers of fumonisins. These findings are very important to come up for a more stable resistance to Fusarium ear rot in corn breeding in the Philippines. Information generated from this study can be used to manage the risk of fumonisin contamination on corn grains after harvest.
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