Diversity of the Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum isolates according to their fumonisin B1 production potential and origin

Species of the genus Fusarium are characterised by the exceptional intraspecies and interspecies variability in respect to morphological, physiological and genetic properties. Intraspecies and interspecies diversity of Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum isolates in the production of fumonisin B1 according to their origin from maize and wheat grains was studied. Fumonisin B1 production potential of investigated 42 isolates was assessed by HPTLC and ELISA method. All 22 and 20 investigated F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum isolates, respectively, had the ability to produce fumonisin B1 toxin. Fumonisin B1 production potential of F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum varied from 88.60 ppm to 1,300.60 ppm and from 2.37 ppm to 1,246.00 ppm, respectively. According to Mann-Whitnev U test, there were no significant differences between the fumonisin B1 production mean values of isolates of F. verticillioides originated from maize and wheat (628.13 ppm and 696.38 ppm, respectively), as well as, fumonisin B1 production mean values of F. proliferatum isolates (212.32 ppm and 158.07 ppm, respectively). Variability coefficient values indicated that fumonisin B1 production potential variability was more expressed in maize than wheat originated isolates for both species.