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Postharvest Pathology and Mycotoxins

Phytotoxicity of Fumonisin B₁, Moniliformin, and T-2 Toxin to Corn Callus Cultures. M. A. J. Van Asch, Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Natal, P.O. Box 375, Pietermaritzburg 3200, Republic of South Africa; F. H. J. Rijkenberg, and T. A. Coutinho. Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Natal, P.O. Box 375, Pietermaritzburg 3200, Republic of South Africa. Phytopathology 82:1330-1332. Accepted for publication 19 May 1992. Copyright 1992 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-82-1330.

The phytotoxicity of the Fusarium moniliforme metabolite, fumonisin B₁ (FB₁), to corn callus cultures was determined and compared with two other Fusarium mycotoxins with known phytotoxic effects, moniliformin, and T-2 toxin. The callus was grown on modified MS medium containing either 0.1, 1.0, 10, or 100 mg of toxin per liter. Callus growth was reduced as the concentration of FB₁ in the culture medium increased, resulting in a significant inhibition at 1.0 mg/L (1.30 µM) and higher toxin levels. The micromolar concentrations of each toxin required to cause >50% reduction in growth of corn calli relative to toxin-free controls was 13.0 µM for FB₁, 102 µM for moniliformin, and 215 µM for T-2 toxin.

Additional keywords: AAL-toxins, Zea mays.