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Appl. Environ. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/AEM.02337-07
Copyright (c) 2008, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Relationship between solute and matric potential stress, temperature, growth and FUM1 gene expression in two Fusarium verticillioides strains from Spain

Department of Genetics, University Complutense Madrid, Jose Antonio Novais 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain and Applied Mycology Group, Cranfield Health, Cranfield University, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4DT, U.K.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: tegonja{at}bio.ucm.es.

	Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the effect of ecophysiological factors on fumonisin gene expression and growth in F. verticillioides. The effect of ionic and non-ionic solute water potentials, matric potential and temperature was examined on in vitro mycelial growth rates and on expression of FUM1 gene, involved in fumonisin biosynthesis. FUM1 transcript levels were quantified using a specific Real Time RT-PCR protocol. Low temperature and water stress reduced fungal growth. Water stress increased FUM1 transcript levels, especially in the case of stress caused by non-ionic solute. The temporal kinetic assays showed that water stress had opposite effects on fungal growth versus FUM1 expression. These results indicate that water stress may be an important factor for fumonisin accumulation, particularly in the later phases of maize colonisation when water availability decreases. The quantitative RT-PCR methods described here provide a valuable tool for investigating the ecophysiological basis for fumonisin gene expression and ultimately lead to more effective control strategies for this important mycotoxigenic pathogen.