AUTHOR=Rocha Liliana O. , Barroso Vinícius M. , Andrade Ludmila J. , Pereira Gustavo H. A. , Ferreira-Castro Fabiane L. , Duarte Aildson P. , Michelotto Marcos D. , Correa Benedito 

TITLE=FUM Gene Expression Profile and Fumonisin Production by Fusarium verticillioides Inoculated in Bt and Non-Bt Maize

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2015.01503

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2015.01503

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>This study aimed to determine the levels of fumonisins produced by <italic>Fusarium verticillioides</italic> and <italic>FUM</italic> gene expression on <italic>Bt</italic> (<italic>Bacillus thuringiensis</italic>) and non-<italic>Bt</italic> maize, post harvest, during different periods of incubation. Transgenic hybrids 30F35 YG, 2B710 Hx and their isogenic (30F35 and 2B710) were collected from the field and a subset of 30 samples selected for the experiments. Maize samples were sterilized by gamma radiation at a dose of 20 kGy. Samples were then inoculated with <italic>F. verticillioides</italic> and analyzed under controlled conditions of temperature and relative humidity for fumonisin B<sub>1</sub> and B<sub>2</sub> (FB<sub>1</sub> and FB<sub>2</sub>) production and <italic>FUM1, FUM3, FUM6, FUM7, FUM8, FUM13, FUM14, FUM15</italic>, and <italic>FUM19</italic> expression. 2B710 Hx and 30F35 YG kernel samples were virtually intact when compared to the non-<italic>Bt</italic> hybrids that came from the field. Statistical analysis showed that FB<sub>1</sub> production was significantly lower in 30F35 YG and 2B710 Hx than in the 30F35 and 2B710 hybrids (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference for FB<sub>2</sub> production (<italic>P</italic> &gt; 0.05). The kernel injuries observed in the non-<italic>Bt</italic> samples have possibly facilitated <italic>F. verticillioides</italic> penetration and promoted FB<sub>1</sub> production under controlled conditions. <italic>FUM</italic> genes were expressed by <italic>F. verticillioides</italic> in all of the samples. However, there was indication of lower expression of a few <italic>FUM</italic> genes in the <italic>Bt</italic> hybrids; and a weak association between FB<sub>1</sub> production and the relative expression of some of the <italic>FUM</italic> genes were observed in the 30F35 YG hybrid.</p>