The effect of trichodiene synthase inhibition in <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> volatiles

Abstract

Fusarium graminearum is the main fungal pathogen associated with Fusarium head blight (FHB). The trichothecene (TCH) deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the major mycotoxins produced contaminating agricultural products. Trichodiene synthase catalyze the synthesis of trichodiene (TRI) intermediate in the biosynthesis of TCHs, coded by the TRI5 gene. During trichothecene metabolism several volatile organic compounds (VOC), including TRI, are produced. Our aims were to obtain a non TCH-producing strain of F. graminearum, and to test the effect of synthetic analogues of plant-derived chemicals on the production of TRI by F. graminearum.