Impact of new emerging Fusarium strains on mycotoxins in Ontario

Lead Applicant: Art Schaafsma

Research Priority: Plant Health & Protection

Program Type: Tier 1

Funding Cycle: 2023/2024

Research Centre: Ontario Crops Research Centre - Ridgetown

Research Summary: New strains of Fusarium graminearum that produce a new toxin, 3ANX, are emerging in Ontario. Preliminary studies show that NX strains result in 3-4 times the amount of Deoxnivalenol (DON) in grain of diseased plants, compared with original strains. As these NX strains become more common in Ontario, it is possible DON contamination will become more intense than it is today. This project will compare the toxigenesis of original non 3NX-producing strains collected in Ontario before 2000 with new strains that produce 3NX collected since 2010 in field plots of corn and wheat to verify if the new 3NX strains result in more DON. We will use high resolution proteomics to study the differences in fungal and plant proteins between infections of the two strains. We will conduct field experiments and surveys on wheat and corn to determine how effectively fungicides and cultivar resistance combat these new strains.