Phenylpyrrole-resistance and aflatoxin production in Aspergillus parasiticus Speare

Mutants of Aspergillus parasiticus highly resistant to phenylpyrroles were isolated at a high mutation frequency, after UV-mutagenesis and selection on media containing fludioxonil. Studies on the effect of mutation(s) on the aflatoxin production resulted in the identification of two fludioxonil-resistant phenotypes: aflatoxigenic (FLD(afl)(+)) and non-aflatoxigenic (FLD(afl)(-)) mutant strains. Most of the FLD(afl)(+) mutant strains produced the aflatoxin B(1) at similar or even higher (up to 2.5-fold) concentrations than the wild-type parent strain on yeast extract sucrose medium. Interestingly, in most of these mutant strains the aflatoxigenic ability significantly increased (up to 4-fold) when the mutants were grown on fungicide-amended medium. However, a significant reduction in the aflatoxin production was observed in wheat grains by all FLD(afl)(+) mutant strains. Tests on the response of mutant strains to high osmotic pressure showed that most fludioxonil-resistant mutants were more sensitive to high osmolarity than the wild-type parent strain. Study of other fitness determining parameters showed that the mutation(s) for resistance to phenylpyrroles may or may not affect the mycelial growth rate, sporulation and conidial germination. However, in a number of aflatoxigenic-mutant strains these fitness parameters were unaffected or only slightly affected. Cross resistance studies with fungicides from different chemical groups showed that the mutation(s) for resistance to fludioxonil also highly reduced the sensitivity of mutant strains to the aromatic hydrocarbon and dicarboximide fungicides. No effect of phenylpyrroles resistance mutation(s) on fungitoxicity of triazoles, benzimidazoles, anilinopyrimidines, phenylpyridinamines, strobilurin-type fungicides and to the non site-specific inhibitors chlorothalonil and maneb was observed. The above mentioned data indicate, for the first time, the potential risk of increased aflatoxin contamination of agricultural products by the appearance and predominance of highly aflatoxigenic mutant strains of A. parasiticus resistant to aromatic hydrocarbon, dicarboximide and phenylpyrrole fungicides.