Adaptive potential of toxigenic Fusarium species (Fusarium spp.) under climate change: representativeness, ecophysiology and interactions

What is it all about?

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is one of the most devastating fungal diseases affecting cereals worldwide. This disease is caused by a complex of different fungal species, belonging to the Fusarium genus, that coexist within the same host plant. Beyond the yield losses due to infection, Fusarium species are able to produce mycotoxins that are harmful for humans and animals health. Fusarium / wheat complex is in constant interaction with the environment where climatic factors and agricultural practices drive the dynamics of Fusarium populations and the associated mycotoxin risk. Therefore, studying the evolution of Fusarium species under changing environment is required to allow predicting and controlling FHB.

To better understand species dynamics and their adaptive potential in the context of climate changes, this work focuses on two main areas. On the one hand, changes in the occurrence of Fusarium species in France over the last 15 years were studied. A metabarcoding approach was used to characterize the distribution of Fusarium species in wheat samples, alongside the associated mycotoxin patterns. This study highlighted the spatio-temporal dynamics of Fusarium species and mycotoxins, using a large database that includes climatic data. On the other hand, ecophysiological behaviours of Fusarium species were studied in response to combined temperature and water activity variations. Growth and mycotoxin production were measured in vitro, both in mono and co-cultures.

The results will be presented to the public and to the members of the exam commission appointed by the Université de Bordeaux:

Mrs Marie FOULONGNE-ORIOL, Chargée de recherche, INRAE (Villenave d'Ornon) ; Anne-Lise BOIXEL, Ingénieure de recherche, Université Paris-Saclay (Palaiseau) ; Cécile ROBIN, Directrice de recherche, INRAE (Cestas)

 and Mr Gaétan LE FLOCH, Professeur des universités, ESIAB (PLOUZANE) ; M. Matias PASQUALI, Associate Professor, Université de Milan (Milan, ITALIE) ; Michel HERNOULD, Professeur, Université de Bordeaux (Talence)