PRODUCTION OF ZEARALENONE, MONILIFORMIN AND TRICHOTHECENES IN INTACT SUGAR-BEETS UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

Five toxigenic isolates of Fusarium species were tested for the production of zearalenone, moniliformin and trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, T-2, HT-2 and neosolaniol when grown on solid sugar beet slices in the laboratory for thirty days. The isolates were also grown on a solid rice medium for comparison. High zearalenone and trichothecene-producing isolates originally obtained from corn and corn-based feedstuff were compared with isolates obtained from sugar beets. One moniliformin-producing isolate from wheat was included in the study. With the exception of moniliformin, all toxins were produced on both substrates; however, the rice medium yielded the greater concentrations except for HT-2 which was produced on sugar beets in equal or greater concentrations. Zearalenone production on rice reached 729-1943 mug/g whereas on sugar beet it reached 72-193 mug/g. The moniliformin-producing isolate grew well on both substrates; however, moniliformin was produced only on the rice substrate. This study demonstrates for the first time that Fusarium species can produce both zearalenone and the trichothecenes on a sugar beet substrate.