Relationship between mycoparasites lifestyles and biocontrol behaviors against Fusarium spp. and mycotoxins production

• Published in: Applied microbiology and biotechnology 2016-06, Vol.100 (12), p.5257-5272
• Main Authors: Kim, Seon Hwa, Vujanovic, Vladimir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria; Biological control; Biological Control Agents - isolation & purification; Biological Control Agents - metabolism; Biological pest control; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Control; Crop diseases; Crops; Edible Grain - microbiology; Enzymes; Epidemics; Food Microbiology; Food processing industry; Food safety; Food Safety - methods; Food security; Food supply; Fungi; Fungi - isolation & purification; Fungi - physiology; Fusarium; Fusarium - pathogenicity; Fusarium - physiology; Fusarium graminearum; Grain; Humans; Life Sciences; Lifestyles; Metabolites; Methods; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Microbial Interactions; Microbiology; Mini-Review; Mycotoxins; Mycotoxins - biosynthesis; Parasites; Pathogens; Pest control; Pesticides; Physiological aspects; Plant diseases; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Studies; T-2 Toxin - biosynthesis; Toxins; Trichoderma - physiology
• ISSN: 0175-7598; 1432-0614
• DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7539-z

Global food security research is seeking eco-friendly solutions to control mycotoxins in grain infected by fungi (molds). In particular, mycotoxigenic Fusarium spp. outbreak is a chronic threat for cereal grain production, human, and animal health. In this review paper, we discuss up-to-date biological control strategies in applying mycoparasites as biological control agents (BCA) to prevent plant diseases in crops and mycotoxins in grain, food, and feed. The aim is to increase food safety and to minimize economic losses due to the reduced grain yield and quality. However, recent papers indicate that the study of the BCA specialists with biotrophic lifestyle lags behind our understanding of the BCA generalists with necrotrophic lifestyle. We examine critical behavioral traits of the two BCA groups of mycoparasites. The goal is to highlight their major characteristics in the context of future research towards an efficient biocontrol strategy against mycotoxin-producing Fusarium species. The emphasis is put on biocontrol of Fusarium graminearum , F. avenaceum , and F. culmorum causing Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereals and their mycotoxins.