Secondary metabolite production by fusarium species isolated from maize kernels

Abstract

The potential of the Fusarium isolates from maize kernels to produce mycotoxins other than fumonisins in addition to other secondary metabolites on Yeast extract sucrose agar and Potato sucrose agar was exhibited through the secondary metabolite profile analyses. Based on the UV spectra and retention indices, most of the Fusarium verticillioides isolates tested produced compounds related to pigments such as fusarubin and nectriafurone. The mycotoxin fusarin C was produced by two F. verlicillioides isolates whilst one isolate produced fusaproliferin. Over 75% of the F. semitectum isolates tested produced either one or both of the antifungal a-pyrones, fusapyrone and deoxyfusapyrone in addition to the mycotoxin/antibiotic equisetin which was also produced by four of five isolates of F. equiseti