The Concentration-Dependent Effects of Essential Oils on the Growth of Fusarium graminearum and Mycotoxins Biosynthesis in Wheat and Maize Grain

Daniela Gwiazdowska,Katarzyna Marchwińska,Roman Kierzek,Romuald Gwiazdowski,Agnieszka Waśkiewicz,Krzysztof Juś,Pascaline Aimee Uwineza

doi:10.3390/app12010473

Abstract

The presence of Fusarium fungi and their toxic metabolites in agricultural crops contributes to significant quantitative and qualitative losses of crops, causing a direct threat to human and animal health and life. Modern strategies for reducing the level of fungi and mycotoxins in the food chain tend to rely on natural methods, including plant substances. Essential oils (EOs), due to their complex chemical composition, show high biological activity, including fungistatic properties, which means that they exhibit high potential as a biological plant protection factor. The aim of this study was to determine the fungistatic activity of three EOs against F. graminearum, and the reduction of mycotoxin biosynthesis in corn and wheat grain. All tested EOs effectively suppressed the growth of F. graminearum in concentrations of 5% and 10%. Cinnamon and verbena EOs also effectively reduced the ergosterol (ERG) content in both grains at the concentration of 1%, while at the 0.1% EO concentration, the reduction in the ERG amount depended on the EO type as well as on the grain. The degree of zearalenone (ZEA) reduction was consistent with the inhibition of ERG biosynthesis, while the reduction in deoxynivalenol (DON) was not consistent with this parameter.

Highlights

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) are the most important cereal crops worldwide, with over 775.8 million and 1125 billion metric tons produced in 2020/21, respectively [1]
The most widespread mycotoxins associated with F. graminearum infection in cereals include zearalenone (ZEA) and trichothecenes, such as nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON), and its acetylated derivatives 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON), 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-ADON) and deoxynivalenol 3 β–D-glucoside (DON-3-G) [6,7,8]
The data described in this study demonstrate that Essential oils (EOs) of cinnamon bark, palmarosa, and verbena were efficient at inhibiting F. graminearum growth as decreased mycelium growth, and alterations in morphological structures and ergosterol quantification were observed

Summary

Introduction

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) are the most important cereal crops worldwide, with over 775.8 million and 1125 billion metric tons produced in 2020/21, respectively [1]. Both cereals are used as food ingredients and animal feed, as they are good sources of nutrients. Different types of food and industrial products, including sweeteners, starch, oil, beverages, glue, industrial alcohol, and fuel ethanol, can be produced from wheat and maize. ZEA is considered an estrogenic mycotoxin and found to be toxic for the liver, kidney, and immune system [9], while trichothecenes can inhibit protein synthesis and induce anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, and cell death, along with altering immune function, phosphokinase-mediated stress pathways, proinflammatory gene expression, gastrointestinal function, and the action of growth hormones [6,10]

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