Chapter 25 - TOXINOGENICITY OF FUSARIUM SPECIES CAUSING DRY ROT OF POTATO TUBERS

Abstract

This chapter discusses the toxinogenicity of Fusarium species causing dry rot of potato tubers. Dry rot of potato tubers causes significant losses during long term storage of tubers, evaluated on an average about 6%, sometimes up 25%. Metabolites produced by cultures of F. sambucinum, isolated from rotted potato tubers were examined in a study. Within a culture of F. sulphureum MRC 514, isolated from potato tuber in Iran, grown on corn meal 3 weeks at 25°C, the study identified four trichothecene mycotoxins, namely, 4,15 diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), 4 monoacetoxyscirpenol, 15 monoacetoxyscirpenol, and 3,4,15 triacetoxyscripenol. Four other isolates originating from Germany and Iran obtained from the collection of Prof. W. Gerlach, Berlin, produced DAS on corn meal, too. Cultures of all five isolates, growing on maize meal, was found to be highly toxic to ducklings. Birds died after 3–5 days, when moulded maize was incorporated into a commercial diet, on a 50% and ducklings fed ad libitum. Another study found the ability to produce DAS in 25 Polish and one German isolates of F. sambucinum Fuckel, both red pigmented and yellow pigmented isolates.