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<OL> <LI> Identify genes that regulate fumonisin production in F. verticillioides. <LI>Identify
genes that contribute to the ability of F. verticillioides to cause maize ear rot.<LI>
Identify biochemical changes in maize in response to fumonisin B1 and F.
verticillioides, and to determine if there is cross-talk between maize and F.
verticillioides sphingolipids.<LI> Identify genes responsible for the biosynthesis of
other agronomically important mycotoxins produced by the maize ear rot pathogens F.
verticillioides, F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans. D<LI>evelop a rapid, selective and
robust PCR-based diagnostic test to detect and quantify mycotoxigenic strains of
Fusarium in contaminated grain and food products.
Approach: <BR> Utilize a combination of molecular genetic approaches such as genomic resources and
microarray analysis to identify and characterize 1) genes involved in the regulation
of fumonisin production in the fungus Fusarium verticillioides and 2) genes that
contribute to the ability of the fungus to cause maize diseases. <BR> Employ chemical
analyses (e.g. mass spectroscopy) to determine whether fumonisins affect sphingolipid
metabolism in maize. <BR> Use molecular genetic methods to identify genes required for
the biosynthesis of other mycotoxins produced by agronomically important Fusarium
species. <BR> Use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approaches to detect and quantify
mycotoxin-producing fungi in maize plants.