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Effect of flavonoid pigments on the accumulation of fumonisin B1 in the maize kernel

  • Plant Genetics • Original Paper
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Abstract

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites with potential dangers for animal and human health. In particular, maize (Zea mays L.) infection caused by Fusarium and the consequent fumonisin contamination is widespread in several countries such as Italy. We developed six maize populations differing in their constitution of regulatory genes able to accumulate respectively anthocyanins in the aleurone layer (r1 gene), pericarp (b1 and pl1 genes) and phlobaphene in the pericarp (p1 gene). These coloured populations, with the related control colourless populations were analysed for mycotoxin content in the kernels during three field seasons with the aim of understanding if there were any correlations with their ability to accumulate flavonoids in kernel tissues. Our results indicate that accumulation of flavonoid pigments in the seeds, in particular phlobaphenes, is able to reduce the level of fumonisin B1. This finding could be used to minimize kernel mycotoxin contamination in this crop, in particular, the development of sweet, pop and polenta coloured corn varieties will help the farmer to keep the level of fumonisin under the threshold of contamination established for human corn consumption.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticism, and Dr. Davide Reginelli and Dr. Francesco Cerino Badone for their hard work in the field. This study was supported by the EU 6th Framework project 007130 “FLORA”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Produzione Vegetale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy

    Roberto Pilu, Elena Cassani & Alberto Sirizzotti

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy

    Katia Petroni & Chiara Tonelli

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  1. Roberto Pilu
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  2. Elena Cassani
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  3. Alberto Sirizzotti
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  4. Katia Petroni
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Correspondence to Roberto Pilu.

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Pilu, R., Cassani, E., Sirizzotti, A. et al. Effect of flavonoid pigments on the accumulation of fumonisin B1 in the maize kernel. J Appl Genetics 52, 145–152 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13353-010-0014-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13353-010-0014-0

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