Development Of Biomolecular Diagnostic Tool For The Management Of Fumonisin Contamination In Maize Zea Mays L

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) cobs showing Fusarium ear rot symptom, poultry feeds and newlinelivestock feeds were collected from different parts of Tamil Nadu and Fumonisin B1 newline(FB1) contamination was estimated qualitatively and quantitatively. Of 41 samples newlinecollected, 29 samples were contaminated with FB1. FB1 level in post-harvest samples newlinewas ranged between 27.24 to 113.9 and#956;g/g. The post-harvest samples recorded Fumonisin newlineB1 level of 28.16 - 118.12 and#956;g/g. The poultry feed and Livestock feed recorded FB1 level newlineranged from 31.56 to 93.75 and 25.16 to 104.51 and#956;g/g, respectively. newlineA Fusarium species was constantly isolated from all the 29 maize samples newlinecontaminated with FB1 and it was identified as Fusarium verticillioides based on cultural and newlinemorphological characters. These 29 Fusarium isolates were further confirmed by molecular newlinecharacterization using species specific primers like VERT-2, Tct and FUM primers. newlineRFLP analysis of genomic DNA of 29 isolates with Eco R1 and Sau 3A showed newlineexistence of genetic variability among the F. verticillioides isolates. These isolates were newlinegrouped is to two major clusters. RFLP analysis also revealed that there is no correlation newlinebetween FB1 production and geographic location of F. verticillioides isolates. newlineThe bacteria Brevundimonas diminuta, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus newlinesubtilis showed antagonistic activity against mycelia growth of F. verticillioides. newlineDual culture experiment revealed that Brevundimonas diminuta extended maximum newlineinhibition of mycelia growth (59.44%). The other two bacteria showed lesser inhibition newlineeffect. In addition, methanolic extract of cell free culture of the above three bacteria were newlinecapable of detoxifying FB1. Among the bacterial cell free culture extracts, newlineBrevundimonas diminuta recorded 94.43% of FB1 detoxifying capacity followed by newlinePseudomonas aeruginosa (88.36%) and Bacillus subtilis (83.29%). newlineMedicinal plant extracts were capable of detoxifying FB1. Among 16 medicinal newlineplants extracts tested, maximum degradation of FB1 was observed with methanolic newlineextract of Lippia