ARS | Publication request: Phytotoxicity of trichothecenes using Arabidopsis detached leaf and Chlamydomonas assays

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: December 20, 2007
Publication Date: April 10, 2008
Citation: Mc Cormick, S.P., Appell, M.D., Alexander, N.J., Desjardins, A.E. 2008. Phytotoxicity of trichothecenes using Arabidopsis detached leaf and Chlamydomonas assays [abstract]. American Chemical Society. Available: http://www.acs.org Paper #AGFD #145.

Technical Abstract: Many plant pathogenic species of the genus Fusarium produce trichothecenes, a large group of sesquiterpene epoxides that are inhibitors of eukaryotic protein synthesis. Fusarium graminearum, F. sporotrichioides, and other trichothecene-producing Fusarium species are common pathogens of cereal grains, especially in temperate climates in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, where trichothecene contamination of wheat, barley, rye, and maize can be a serious problem. Although some Fusarium trichothecenes are virulence factors in plant disease, the phytotoxicities of many trichothecenes have only recently been investigated. We used two test systems to determine which structural features might influence phytotoxicity; namely, detached leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana plants and the unicellular plant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Each was treated with solutions of natural and synthetically modified trichothecenes that differ in oxygenation and acetylation. Results of these studies suggest that trichothecenes with a C-3 acetyl group are generally less phytotoxic that those with a C-3 hydroxyl group. The results also indicated that other structural features may be important.