Abstract
Wheat, the main source of carbohydrates worldwide, can be attacked by a wide number of phytopathogenic fungi, included Alternaria species. Alternaria species commonly occur on wheat worldwide and produce several mycotoxins such as tenuazonic acid (TA), alternariol (AOH), alternariol-monomethyl ether (AME), and altenuene (ALT), provided of haemato-toxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic activities. The contamination by Alternaria species of wheat kernels, collected in Tuscany, Italy, from 2013 to 2016, was evaluated. Alternaria contamination was detected in 93 out of 100 field samples, with values ranging between 1 and 73% (mean of 18%). Selected strains were genetically characterized by multi-locus gene sequencing approach through combined sequences of allergen alt1a, glyceraldeyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and translation elongation factor 1α genes. Two well defined groups were generated; namely sections Alternaria and Infectoriae. Representative strains were analyzed for mycotoxin production. A different mycotoxin profile between the sections was shown. Of the 54 strains analyzed for mycotoxins, all strains included in Section Alternaria produced AOH and AME, 40 strains (99%) produced TA, and 26 strains (63%) produced ALT. On the other hand, only a very low capability to produce both AOH and AME was recorded among the Section Infectoriae strains. These data show that a potential mycotoxin risk related to the consumption of Alternaria contaminated wheat is high.
Highlights
Since ancient times, wheat has been one of the most cultivated cereals worldwide, representing an important source of carbohydrates in human and livestock diet
Kernels can be colonized by several toxigenic fungal species, mainly belonging to Fusarium and Alternaria genera
After five days of incubation, fungal colonies originating from infected kernels were counted and percentages of total fungal contamination and Alternaria contamination were calculated
Summary
Wheat has been one of the most cultivated cereals worldwide, representing an important source of carbohydrates in human and livestock diet. Kernels can be colonized by several toxigenic fungal species, mainly belonging to Fusarium and Alternaria genera. These fungal genera negatively influence quantitative and qualitative wheat production and they represent a serious toxicological risk as they produce a broad spectrum of mycotoxins and secondary metabolites, which can cause problems in humans and animals [2] Several Alternaria species colonize wheat plants, causing symptoms on both leaf and kernels These fungal genera negatively influence quantitative and qualitative wheat production and they represent a serious toxicological risk as they produce a broad spectrum of mycotoxins and secondary metabolites, which can cause problems in humans and animals [2] (pp. 51–57).
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