Genetic Variability of Aspergillus flavus Isolates from a Mississippi Corn Field

A nontoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strain, K49, is currently being tested as a biological control agent in corn fields in the Mississippi Delta. However, little is known about the overall genetic diversity of A. flavus from year to year in corn fields and specifically in Mississippi. Our objective wa...

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Main Authors: Cesar D. Solorzano, Hamed K. Abbas, Robert M. Zablotowicz, Perng-Kuang Chang, Walker A. Jones
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/356059
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author Cesar D. Solorzano
Hamed K. Abbas
Robert M. Zablotowicz
Perng-Kuang Chang
Walker A. Jones
author_facet Cesar D. Solorzano
Hamed K. Abbas
Robert M. Zablotowicz
Perng-Kuang Chang
Walker A. Jones
author_sort Cesar D. Solorzano
collection DOAJ
description A nontoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strain, K49, is currently being tested as a biological control agent in corn fields in the Mississippi Delta. However, little is known about the overall genetic diversity of A. flavus from year to year in corn fields and specifically in Mississippi. Our objective was to assess the genetic variability of A. flavus isolates from different seasons, inoculum sources, and years, from a no-till corn field. Of the 175 A. flavus isolates examined, 74 and 97 had the typical norB-cypA type I (1.5 kb) and type II (1.0 kb) deletion patterns, respectively. Variability in the sequence of the omtA gene of the majority of the field isolates (n=118) was compared to strain K49. High levels of haplotypic diversity (24 omtA haplotypes; Hd = 0.61 ± 0.04) were found. Among the 24 haplotypes, two were predominant, H1 (n=71), which consists of mostly toxigenic isolates, and H49 (n=18), which consists of mostly atoxigenic isolates including K49. Toxigenic isolates were prevalent (60%) in this natural population. Nonetheless, about 15% of the population likely shared the same ancestral origin with K49. This study provides valuable information on the diversity of A. flavus. This knowledge can be further used to develop additional biological control strains.
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spelling doaj-art-c2e813db623f4a3793826eedf2e4cf7a2025-02-03T01:28:47ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/356059356059Genetic Variability of Aspergillus flavus Isolates from a Mississippi Corn FieldCesar D. Solorzano0Hamed K. Abbas1Robert M. Zablotowicz2Perng-Kuang Chang3Walker A. Jones4Biological Control of Pests Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Stoneville, MS 38776, USABiological Control of Pests Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Stoneville, MS 38776, USACrop Production Systems Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Stoneville, MS 38776, USAFood and Feed Safety Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, New Orleans, LA 70124, USABiological Control of Pests Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Stoneville, MS 38776, USAA nontoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strain, K49, is currently being tested as a biological control agent in corn fields in the Mississippi Delta. However, little is known about the overall genetic diversity of A. flavus from year to year in corn fields and specifically in Mississippi. Our objective was to assess the genetic variability of A. flavus isolates from different seasons, inoculum sources, and years, from a no-till corn field. Of the 175 A. flavus isolates examined, 74 and 97 had the typical norB-cypA type I (1.5 kb) and type II (1.0 kb) deletion patterns, respectively. Variability in the sequence of the omtA gene of the majority of the field isolates (n=118) was compared to strain K49. High levels of haplotypic diversity (24 omtA haplotypes; Hd = 0.61 ± 0.04) were found. Among the 24 haplotypes, two were predominant, H1 (n=71), which consists of mostly toxigenic isolates, and H49 (n=18), which consists of mostly atoxigenic isolates including K49. Toxigenic isolates were prevalent (60%) in this natural population. Nonetheless, about 15% of the population likely shared the same ancestral origin with K49. This study provides valuable information on the diversity of A. flavus. This knowledge can be further used to develop additional biological control strains.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/356059
spellingShingle Cesar D. Solorzano
Hamed K. Abbas
Robert M. Zablotowicz
Perng-Kuang Chang
Walker A. Jones
Genetic Variability of Aspergillus flavus Isolates from a Mississippi Corn Field
The Scientific World Journal
title Genetic Variability of Aspergillus flavus Isolates from a Mississippi Corn Field
title_full Genetic Variability of Aspergillus flavus Isolates from a Mississippi Corn Field
title_fullStr Genetic Variability of Aspergillus flavus Isolates from a Mississippi Corn Field
title_full_unstemmed Genetic Variability of Aspergillus flavus Isolates from a Mississippi Corn Field
title_short Genetic Variability of Aspergillus flavus Isolates from a Mississippi Corn Field
title_sort genetic variability of aspergillus flavus isolates from a mississippi corn field
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/356059
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