Effects of different carbon sources on trichothecene production and Tri gene expression by Fusarium graminearum in liquid culture.

Fusarium head blight caused by Fusarium graminearum is a disease of cereal crops that not only reduces crop yield and quality but also results in contamination with trichothecenes such as nivalenol and deoxynivalenol (DON). To analyze the trichothecene induction mechanism, effects of 12 carbon sources on the production of DON and 3-acetyldexynivalenol (3ADON) were examined in liquid cultures incubated with nine strains of 3ADON-producing F. graminearum. Significantly high levels of trichothecene (DON and 3ADON) production by sucrose, 1-kestose and nystose were commonly observed among all of the strains tested. On the other hand, the levels of trichothecene biosynthesis induced by the other carbon sources were strain-specific. Tri4 and Tri5 expressions were up-regulated in the sucrose-containing medium but not in glucose. Trichothecene accumulation in the sucrose-containing medium was not repressed by the addition of glucose, indicating that trichothecene production was not regulated by carbon catabolite repression. These findings suggest that F. graminearum recognizes sucrose molecules, activates Tri gene expression and induces trichothecene biosynthesis.