Zearalenone - Producing Activity of Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium oxysporum Isolated from Bulgarian Wheat

Several Fusarium species are important pathogens of cereals and corn, causing severe crop yield reduction. In addition, some isolates are able to produce mycotoxins. The most important Fusarium mycotoxins, which can frequently occur at biologically significant concentrations in cereals, are fumonisins, zearalenone ZEA and trichothecenes deoxynivalenol, nivalenol and T-2 toxin. The aim of the current study was to establish ZEA-producing activity of some wheat Fusarium species F.graminearum and F. oxysporum originated from different geographical regions in Bulgaria. 40 wheat Fusarium isolates were screened for their ability to produce ZEA , by cultivating on the sterile wheat. To determine the presence of ZEA was used a monoclonal antibody-based affinity chromatography, ZearalaTest™ by using Fluorometer and HPLC, Series-4, VICAM®, USA. The results of the mycotoxicological analysis revealed that 22 55% of the wheat samples tested were contaminated with ZEA. Obtained data show also that the F. graminearum is among the main species producing ZEA in Bulgarian wheat. On the other hand, for the first time 7 35% in 20 isolates of F. oxysporum in Bulgarian wheat were found to synthesize ZEA.