Influence of Light Spectrum on Bread Wheat Head Colonization by <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> and on the Accumulation of Its Secondary Metabolites

Previous studies indicated that light influences mycotoxin production and wheat’s defense responses to the cereal fungal pathogen <i>Fusarium graminearum</i>. Herein, the effect of different light wavelengths on <i>F. graminearum</i> colonization and secondary metabolite bios...

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Main Authors: Minely Cerón-Bustamante, Francesco Tini, Giovanni Beccari, Andrea Onofri, Emilio Balducci, Michael Sulyok, Lorenzo Covarelli, Paolo Benincasa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2013
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author Minely Cerón-Bustamante
Francesco Tini
Giovanni Beccari
Andrea Onofri
Emilio Balducci
Michael Sulyok
Lorenzo Covarelli
Paolo Benincasa
author_facet Minely Cerón-Bustamante
Francesco Tini
Giovanni Beccari
Andrea Onofri
Emilio Balducci
Michael Sulyok
Lorenzo Covarelli
Paolo Benincasa
author_sort Minely Cerón-Bustamante
collection DOAJ
description Previous studies indicated that light influences mycotoxin production and wheat’s defense responses to the cereal fungal pathogen <i>Fusarium graminearum</i>. Herein, the effect of different light wavelengths on <i>F. graminearum</i> colonization and secondary metabolite biosynthesis in bread wheat was assessed. Heads of a susceptible bread wheat cultivar were point-inoculated and exposed to red (627 nm), blue (470 nm), blue/red, and white light. Symptom severity, fungal DNA, and secondary metabolite accumulation were evaluated. Blue and red wavelengths reduced <i>F. graminearum</i> infection but had an opposite effect on the production of its fungal secondary metabolites. While blue light enhanced the accumulation of sesquiterpene mycotoxins, red light promoted the production of polyketide compounds. In addition, blue light stimulated deoxynivalenol glycosylation. These findings suggest that the light spectrum could affect mycotoxin contamination of wheat grains, highlighting the importance of light quality studies in field crops.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2223-7747
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Plants
spelling doaj-art-0ff5aab079d04868b10c769a49843f622025-08-20T03:28:29ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-07-011413201310.3390/plants14132013Influence of Light Spectrum on Bread Wheat Head Colonization by <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> and on the Accumulation of Its Secondary MetabolitesMinely Cerón-Bustamante0Francesco Tini1Giovanni Beccari2Andrea Onofri3Emilio Balducci4Michael Sulyok5Lorenzo Covarelli6Paolo Benincasa7Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, BOKU University, A-3430 Tulln, AustriaDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, ItalyPrevious studies indicated that light influences mycotoxin production and wheat’s defense responses to the cereal fungal pathogen <i>Fusarium graminearum</i>. Herein, the effect of different light wavelengths on <i>F. graminearum</i> colonization and secondary metabolite biosynthesis in bread wheat was assessed. Heads of a susceptible bread wheat cultivar were point-inoculated and exposed to red (627 nm), blue (470 nm), blue/red, and white light. Symptom severity, fungal DNA, and secondary metabolite accumulation were evaluated. Blue and red wavelengths reduced <i>F. graminearum</i> infection but had an opposite effect on the production of its fungal secondary metabolites. While blue light enhanced the accumulation of sesquiterpene mycotoxins, red light promoted the production of polyketide compounds. In addition, blue light stimulated deoxynivalenol glycosylation. These findings suggest that the light spectrum could affect mycotoxin contamination of wheat grains, highlighting the importance of light quality studies in field crops.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2013wheat<i>Fusarium graminearum</i>deoxynivalenoldeoxynivalenol-3-glucosidelighttrichothecenes
spellingShingle Minely Cerón-Bustamante
Francesco Tini
Giovanni Beccari
Andrea Onofri
Emilio Balducci
Michael Sulyok
Lorenzo Covarelli
Paolo Benincasa
Influence of Light Spectrum on Bread Wheat Head Colonization by <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> and on the Accumulation of Its Secondary Metabolites
Plants
wheat
<i>Fusarium graminearum</i>
deoxynivalenol
deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside
light
trichothecenes
title Influence of Light Spectrum on Bread Wheat Head Colonization by <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> and on the Accumulation of Its Secondary Metabolites
title_full Influence of Light Spectrum on Bread Wheat Head Colonization by <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> and on the Accumulation of Its Secondary Metabolites
title_fullStr Influence of Light Spectrum on Bread Wheat Head Colonization by <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> and on the Accumulation of Its Secondary Metabolites
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Light Spectrum on Bread Wheat Head Colonization by <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> and on the Accumulation of Its Secondary Metabolites
title_short Influence of Light Spectrum on Bread Wheat Head Colonization by <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> and on the Accumulation of Its Secondary Metabolites
title_sort influence of light spectrum on bread wheat head colonization by i fusarium graminearum i and on the accumulation of its secondary metabolites
topic wheat
<i>Fusarium graminearum</i>
deoxynivalenol
deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside
light
trichothecenes
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2013
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