Innovative strategies with sustainable fungicides of new composition towards mycotoxin fusarium control in cereals

Several Fusarium species, including the cereal pathogens F. culmorum and F. graminearum, are the predominant incitants of Fusarium head blight (FHB) and crown and foot rot (CFR) worldwide. Yield and quality losses are caused by FHB, which develops from infection that occurs at anthesis and spreads until grain harvest, causing the grain to be contaminated with mycotoxins. The mycotoxins type B trichothecenes deoxinivalenol (DON), their acetylated derivatives (3-ADON and 15-ADON), and nivalenol (NIV), produced by Fusarium spp., are predominant both in Europe and Argentina. Natural inhibitory compounds and fungicides are mostly extracted from plants and are involved in host resistance response. The CNR-CONICET bilateral project, started on August 2017, aims at identifying, designing, formulating, and characterizing a series of molecules based on the structure of natural/natural-like inhibitors, able to counteract the pathogenic and mycotoxigenic potential of natural populations of Fusarium, or capable to stimulating natural resistance responses by the host plant. The activity has be supported by a preliminary in silico study based on the best interaction between trichodiene synthase TRI5 (enzyme which catalyzes the synthesis of trichodiene, precursor of trichothecenes) and a collection of molecules, mainly phenols and biphenols. This activity has be performed by the CNR UNIT as well as the study and synthesis of natural occurring compounds [1, 2]. In vivo testing has be carried out with selected molecules in order to evaluate their efficacy in reducing FHB symptoms in wheat as well as trichodiene accumulation in the spikes, which has be evaluated using a straightforward method developed by the CONICET UNIT [3]. In vitro evaluation of sustainable carriers to improve bioavailability of molecules with fungicide and/or inhibitory activities has be also investigated.