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Modulation of Growth and Mycotoxigenic Potential of Pineapple Fruitlet Core Rot Pathogens during In Vitro Interactions

Summary

Pineapple Fruitlet Core Rot is a disease caused by multiple fungi that live together inside pineapple fruit. This study showed that different fungi compete with each other in ways that change how much toxin they produce. One fungus, Talaromyces stollii, was particularly good at limiting the growth of Fusarium species. Understanding how these fungi interact could help prevent disease and keep pineapples safer to eat.

Background

Pineapple Fruitlet Core Rot (FCR) is a multi-pathogen fungal disease characterized by the coexistence of healthy and diseased fruitlets within the same fruit. Four pathogens have been identified: Fusarium ananatum, Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Talaromyces stollii. The mycobiomes of healthy and diseased tissues suggest that pathogen interactions and chemical communication may drive disease development.

Objective

To investigate interspecies interactions among FCR pathogens through in vitro pairwise co-culture bioassays. The study aimed to decipher how pathogen interactions affect both fungal growth and mycotoxin production patterns over 10 days of culture.

Results

Talaromyces stollii was the main antagonist, reducing growth of Fusarium proliferatum by 22%. Co-cultivation resulted in a 99.5% collapse of beauvericin content in some species combinations while fumonisins increased up to 7-fold. Red pigmentation and exudates appeared at mycelium contact zones during Fusarium-Talaromyces interactions, suggesting antagonistic chemical signaling.

Conclusion

Interspecific fungal interactions significantly modulate mycotoxin production and growth patterns. Talaromyces stollii acts as a key competitive antagonist within the FCR pathobiome. Understanding these interactions and their chemical basis is crucial for developing prediction and prevention models for FCR disease in pineapple.
  • Published in:Toxins (Basel),
  • Study Type:In Vitro Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39195754
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