Published

2022-08-30

Fusarium species that cause corn stalk rot in the Ubaté valley of Cundinamarca, Colombia

Especies de Fusarium que causan la pudrición del tallo del maíz en el valle de Ubaté en Cundinamarca, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/agron.colomb.v40n2.102465

Keywords:

Zea mays L., Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC), Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC), corn lodging, cold-climate corn (en)
Zea mays L., complejo de especies de Fusarium graminearum (FGSC), complejo de especies de Fusarium fujikuroi (FFSC), volcamiento del maíz, maíz de clima frío (es)

Downloads

Authors

In recent years, corn (Zea mays L.) crops in the Colombian cold tropics located in the Ubaté valley in Cundinamarca have been affected by stalk rot with incidences up to 40%. Despite the importance of this disease, accurate diagnosis has not been conducted. The objectives of the study were to determine the causal agents of corn lodging associated with stalk rot in this corn-producing region and describe the symptoms of the disease. Two plots with stalk rot reported in the municipality of Simijaca in July 2016 were sown with the regional varieties Simijaca and Sogamoso. Plants were randomly inspected on a monthly basis for describing disease symptoms and isolating the pathogen. The Fusarium species isolated were morphologically and molecularly identified and pathogenicity tests were conducted. The disease was detected at early plant developmental stages with the combination of chlorosis, leaf anthocyanosis, and dwarfism as the main symptoms in the two corn varieties evaluated. Crown and node necrosis in longitudinal sections of the stalk and purple colorations in the crown, nodes and internodes of plants were observed 90 d after sowing. Finally, lodging occurred at any phenological stage of the crop. Fusarium spp. were isolated in all stages of plant development. Fusarium species were identified as F. graminearum in the Fusarium graminearum species complex and F. subglutinans in the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex, which have cold-climate production zones as their ecological niche. Pathogenicity tests confirmed F. graminearum and F. subglutinans as the causal agents of stalk rot in the regional corn variety Simijaca in the Ubate valley in Cundinamarca.

En los últimos años, los cultivos de maíz (Zea mays L.) en el trópico frío colombiano localizados en el valle de Ubaté en Cundinamarca han sido afectados por una pudrición del tallo con incidencias hasta del 40%. A pesar de la importancia de esta enfermedad, no se ha realizado un diagnóstico preciso. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los agentes causales del volcamiento de maíz asociado a la pudrición del tallo en esta región productora y describir los síntomas de la enfermedad. Dos lotes con registro de pudrición de tallo en el municipio de Simijaca en el valle de Ubaté en julio de 2016 fueron sembrados con las variedades regionales Simijaca y Sogamoso. Las plantas fueron inspeccionadas aleatoriamente de forma mensual para describir los síntomas de la enfermedad y aislar el patógeno. Las especies de Fusarium aisladas fueron morfológicamente y molecularmente identificadas y se realizaron las pruebas de patogenicidad en maíz. La enfermedad fue detectada en estados tempranos de desarrollo de la planta como la combinación de clorosis, antocianosis de las hojas y enanismo de la planta; estos como los principales síntomas en las dos variedades de maíz evaluadas. La necrosis de cuello y nudos fue observada en cortes longitudinales del tallo y coloraciones púrpura en cuello, nudos y entrenudos de la planta fueron observados 90 d después de la siembra. Finalmente, el volcamiento ocurrió en cualquier estado fenológico del cultivo. Fusarium spp. fue aislado en todos los estados de desarrollo de la planta. Las especies de Fusarium fueron identificadas como F. graminearum perteneciente al complejo de especies Fusarium graminearum y F. subglutinans perteneciente al complejo de especies Fusarium fujikuroi, las cuales tienen las zonas de producción de clima frío como su nicho ecológico. Las pruebas de patogenicidad confirmaron a F. graminearum y F. subglutinans como los agentes causales de la pudrición del tallo en la variedad regional de maíz Simijaca en el valle de Ubaté en Cundinamarca.

References

Bacon, C. W., Glenn, A. E., & Yates, I. E. (2008). Fusarium verticillioides: Managing the endophytic association with maize for reduced fumonisins accumulation. Toxin Reviews, 27(3–4), 411–446. https://doi.org/10.1080/15569540802497889 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15569540802497889

Bennett, R. S., & Colyer, P. D. (2010). Dry heat and hot water treatments for disinfecting cottonseed of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum. Plant Disease, 94, 1469–1475. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-10-0052 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-10-0052

Blacutt, A. A., Gold, S. E., Voss, K. A., Gao, M., & Glenn, A. E. (2018). Fusarium verticillioides: Advancements in understanding the toxicity, virulence, and niche adaptations of a model mycotoxigenic pathogen of maize. Phytopathology, 108(3), 312–326. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-17-0203-RVW DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-17-0203-RVW

Blandino, M., Reyneri, A., Colombari, G., & Pietri, A. (2009). Comparison of integrated field programmes for the reduction of fumonisin contamination in maize kernels. Field Crops Research, 111(3), 284–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2009.01.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2009.01.004

Buritica, P. C. (1999). Directorio de patógenos y enfermedades de las plantas de importancia económica en Colombia. Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA).

Chulze, S. N., Ramírez, M. L., Farnochi, M. C., Pascale, M., Visconti, A., & March, G. (1996). Fusarium and fumonisin occurrence in Argentinian corn at different ear maturity stages. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 44(9), 2797–2801. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf950381d DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jf950381d

CIAT & CIMMYT. (2019). Maíz para Colombia Visión 2030. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical and Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento del Maíz y Trigo CIMMYT.

CIMMYT. (2004). Maize diseases: a guide for field identification (4th ed.). Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento del Maíz y Trigo CIMMYT.

Clear, R. M., Patrick, S. K., Wallis, R., & Turkington, T. K. (2002). Effect of dry heat treatment on seed-borne Fusarium graminearum and other cereal pathogens. Plant Pathology, 24(4), 489–498. https://doi.org/10.1080/07060660209507038 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07060660209507038

Coutinho, W. M., Silva-Mann, R., Vieira, M. G. C. G., Machado, C. F., & Machado, J. C. (2007). Qualidade sanitária e fisiológica de sementes de milho submetidas a termoterapia e condicionamento fisiológico. Fitopatologia Brasileira, 32(6), 458–464. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-41582007000600002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-41582007000600002

Czembor, E., Stępień, Ł., & Waśkiewicz, A. (2015). Effect of environmental factors on Fusarium species and associated mycotoxins in maize grain grown in Poland. PLoS ONE, 10(7), Article e0133644. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0133644 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0133644

Daniels, B. A. (1983). Elimination of Fusarium moniliforme from corn seed. Plant Disease, 67, 609–611. https://doi.org/10.1094/PD-67-609 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PD-67-609

Dodd, J. L. (1980). The role of plant stresses in development of corn stalk rots. Plant Disease, 64(6), Article 533. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PD-64-533

Duncan, K. E., & Howard, R. J. (2010). Biology of maize kernel infection by Fusarium verticillioides. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 23(1), 6–16. https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-23-1-0006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-23-1-0006

Figueroa-Rivera, M. G., Rodríguez-Guerra, R., Guerrero-Aguilar, B. Z., González-Chavira, M. M., Pons-Hernández, J. L., Jiménez-Bremont, J. F., Ramírez-Pimentel, J. G., Andrino-Enríquez, E., & Mendoza-Elos, M. (2010). Caracterización de especies de Fusarium asociadas a la pudrición de raíz de maíz en Guanajuato, México. Revista Mexicana de Fitopatología, 28, 124–134.

Fumero, M. V., Sulyok, M., & Chulze, S. N. (2016). Ecophysiology of Fusarium temperatum isolated from maize in Argentina. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, 33(1), 147–156. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2015.1107917 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2015.1107917

Gai, X., Dong, H., Wang, S., Liu, B., Zhang, Z., Li, X., & Gao, Z. (2018). Infection cycle of maize stalk rot and ear rot caused by Fusarium verticillioides. PLoS ONE, 13(7), Article e0201588. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201588 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201588

Gómez-Caro, S., Ligarreto-Moreno, G., Maldonado-Archila, G., & Osorio-Tamayo, M. (2017). Enfermedades del maíz en la zona altoandina. Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

Hanway, J. J. (1996). Special report no. 48, How a corn plant develops? Iowa State University Cooperative Extension. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/83024409.pdf

Kuldau, G. A., & Yates, I. E. (2000). Evidence for Fusarium endophytes in cultivated and wild plants. In C. W. Bacon & J. White (Eds.), Microbial Endophytes (pp. 85–117). Marcel Dekker.

Laraba, I., Mc Cormick, S. P., Vaughan, M. M., Geiser, D. M., & O’Donnell, K. (2021). Phylogenetic diversity, trichothecene potential, and pathogenicity within Fusarium sambucinum species complex. PLoS ONE 16(4), Article e0250812. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250812 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250812

Lawrence, E. B., Nelson, P.E., & Ayers, J. E. (1981). Histopathology of sweet corn seed and plants infected with Fusarium moniliforme and F. oxysporum. Phytopathology, 71(4), 379–386. https://doi.org/10.1094/Phyto-71-379 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/Phyto-71-379

Leslie, J. F., & Summerell, B. A (Eds.). (2006). The Fusarium laboratory manual. Blackwell Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470278376 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470278376

Leyva-Madrigal, K. Y., Larralde-Corona, C. P., Apodaca-Sánchez, M. A., Quiroz-Figueroa, F. R., Mexia-Bolaños, P. A., Portillo-Valenzuela, S., Ordaz-Ochoa, J., & Maldonado-Mendoza, I. E. (2015). Fusarium Species from the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex involved in mixed infections of maize in Northern Sinaloa, Mexico. Journal of Phytopathology, 163(6), 486–497. https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.12346 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.12346

Ligarreto, G. A. (2017). Selección de semilla de maíz Simijaca. Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

Logrieco, A., Moretti, A., Altomare, C., Bottalico, A., & Torres, E. C. (1993). Occurrence and toxicity of Fusarium subglutinans from Peruvian maize. Mycopathologia, 122, 183–190. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01103480 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01103480

Madden, L. V., Hughes, G., & Bosch, F. (2007). The study of plant disease epidemics. American Phytopathological Society- APS Press.

Munkvold, G. P., Arias, S., Taschl, I., & Gruber-Dorninger, C. (2018). Mycotoxins in corn: Occurrence, impacts, and management. In S. O. Serna-Saldivar (Ed.), Corn Chemistry and Technology (3th ed., pp. 235–287). Woodhead Publishing and AACC International Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811971-6.00009-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811971-6.00009-7

Munkvold, G. P., Hellmich, R. L., & Showers, W. B. (1997). Reduced Fusarium ear rot and symptomless infection in kernels of maize genetically engineered for European corn borer resistance. Phytopathology, 87(10), 1071–1077. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO.1997.87.10.1071 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO.1997.87.10.1071

Murillo-Williams, A., & Munkvold, G. P. (2008). Systemic infection by Fusarium verticillioides in maize plants grown under three temperature regimes. Plant Disease, 92(12), 1695–1700. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-92-12-1695 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-92-12-1695

Nguyen, T. T. X., Dehne, H. W., & Steiner, U. (2015). Histopathological assessment of the infection of maize leaves by Fusarium graminearum, F. proliferatum, and F. verticillioides. Fungal Biology, 120(9), 1094–1104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2016.05.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2016.05.013

Nguyen, T. T. X., Dehne, H. W., & Steiner, U. (2016). Maize leaf trichomes represent an entry point of infection for Fusarium species. Fungal Biology, 120(8), 895–903. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2016.05.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2016.05.014

Nielsen, R. L. (2008). Growing point location in corn at different growth stages, Purdue University. Corny News Network. https://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/news/timeless/growingpointsgallery.html

Ooka, J. J., & Kommedahl, T. (1977). Wind and rain dispersal of Fusarium moniliforme in corn fields. Phytopathology, 67, 1023–1026. https://doi.org/10.1094/Phyto-67-1023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/Phyto-67-1023

Paliwal, R. L. (2016). Introducción al maíz y su importancia. FAO. https://www.fao.org/3/x7650s/x7650s02.htm

Piñeros-Guerrero, N., Maldonado-Archila, G., & Gómez-Caro, S. (2019). Effect of thermal and in vitro fungicide treatments on pathogens of the genus Fusarium associated with maize seeds. Agronomía Colombiana, 37(3), 228–238. https://doi.org/10.15446/agron.colomb.v37n3.80302 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15446/agron.colomb.v37n3.80302

Reid, L. M., Nicol, R. W., Ouellet, T., Savard, M., Miller, J. D., Young, J. C., Stewart, D. W., & Schaafsma, A. W. (1999). Interaction of Fusarium graminearum and F. moniliforme in maize ears: Disease progress, fungal biomass, and mycotoxin accumulation. Phytopathology, 89(11), 1028–1037. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO.1999.89.11.1028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO.1999.89.11.1028

Reyes-Velázquez, W. P., Figueroa-Gómez, R. M., Barberis, M., Reynoso, M. M., Rojo, F. G. A., Chulze, S. N., & Torres, A. M. (2011). Fusarium species (section Liseola) occurrence and natural incidence of bauvericin, fusaproliferin and fumonisins in maize hybrids harvested in Mexico. Mycotoxin Research, 27, 187–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-011-0095-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-011-0095-6

Schulz, B., Römmert, A., Dammann, U., Aust, H. J., & Strack, D. (1999). The endophyte-host interaction: a balanced antagonism? Mycological Research, 103(10), 1275–1283. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0953756299008540 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0953756299008540

Stakheev, A. A., Samokhvalova, L. V., Mikityuk, O. D., & Zavriev, S. K. (2018). Phylogenetic analysis and molecular typing of Trichothecene-producing Fusarium fungi from Russian collections. Acta Naturae, 10(2), 79–92. https://doi.org/10.32607/20758251-2018-10-2-79-92 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32607/20758251-2018-10-2-79-92

Summerell, B. A. (2019). Resolving Fusarium: Current status of the genus. Annual Review of Phytopathology, 57, 323–339. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-phyto-082718-100204 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-phyto-082718-100204

Tamura, K. (1992). Estimation of the number of nucleotide substitutions when there are strong transition-transversion and G+C content biases. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 9(4), 678–687. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a040752 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a040752

Van der Lee, T., Zhang, H., Van Diepeningen, A., & Waalwijk, C. (2015). Biogeography of Fusarium graminearum species complex and chemotypes: a review. Food Additives and Contaminants – Part A, 32(4), 453–460. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2014.984244 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2014.984244

Van Wyck, P. S., Scholtz, D. J., & Marasas, W. F. O. (1988). Protection of maize seedlings by Fusarium moniliforme against infection by Fusarium graminearum in the soil. Plant and Soil, 107, 251–257. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370554

Wang, C., Yang, Q., Wang, W., Li, Y., Guo, Y., Zhang, D., Ma, X., Song, W., Zhao, J., & Xu, M. (2017). A transposon-directed epigenetic change in ZmCCT underlies quantitative resistance to Gibberella stalk rot in maize. New Phytologist, 215(4), 1503–1515. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14688 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14688

Warham, E. J., Butler, L. D., & Sutton, R. C. (1997). Ensayos para la semilla de maíz y de trigo. CIMMYT.

Wilke, A. L, Bronson, C. R., Tomas, A., & Munkvold, G. P. (2007). Seed transmission of Fusarium verticillioides in maize plants grown under three different temperature regimes. Plant Disease, 91(9), 1109–1115. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-91-9-1109 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-91-9-1109

Wicklow, D. T. (1988). Patterns of fungal association with maize kernels harvested in North Carolina. Plant Disease, 72, 113–115. https://doi.org/10.1094/PD-72-0113 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PD-72-0113

Wicklow, D. T., Roth, S., Deyrup, S. T., & Gloer, J. B. (2005). A protective endophyte of maize: Acremonium zeae antibiotics inhibitory to Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides. Mycological Research, 109(5), 610–618. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0953756205002820 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0953756205002820

Windels, C. E., Windels, M. B., & Kommedahl, T. (1976). Association of Fusarium species with picnic beetles on corn ears. Phytopathology, 66, 328–331. https://doi.org/10.1094/Phyto-66-328 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/Phyto-66-328

Yang, Q., Yin, G., Guo, Y., Zhang, D., Chen, S., & Xu, M. (2010). A major QTL for resistance to Gibberella stalk rot in maize. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 121, 673–687. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-010-1339-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-010-1339-0

Yates, I. E., Bacon, C. W., & Hinton, D. M. (1997). Effects of endophytic infection by Fusarium moniliforme on corn growth and cellular morphology. Plant Disease, 81(7), 723–728. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS.1997.81.7.723 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS.1997.81.7.723

Yli-Mattila, T., Gagkaeva, T., Ward, T. J., Aoki, T., Kistler, H. C., & O´Donnell, K. (2009). A novel Asian clade within the Fusarium graminearum species complex includes a newly discovered cereal head blight pathogen from the Russian Far East. Mycologia, 101(6), 841–852. https://doi.org/10.3852/08-217 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3852/08-217

How to Cite

APA

Maldonado-Archila, G., Ligarreto-Moreno, G. & Gómez-Caro, S. (2022). Fusarium species that cause corn stalk rot in the Ubaté valley of Cundinamarca, Colombia. Agronomía Colombiana, 40(2), 237–248. https://doi.org/10.15446/agron.colomb.v40n2.102465

ACM

[1]
Maldonado-Archila, G., Ligarreto-Moreno, G. and Gómez-Caro, S. 2022. Fusarium species that cause corn stalk rot in the Ubaté valley of Cundinamarca, Colombia. Agronomía Colombiana. 40, 2 (May 2022), 237–248. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15446/agron.colomb.v40n2.102465.

ACS

(1)
Maldonado-Archila, G.; Ligarreto-Moreno, G.; Gómez-Caro, S. Fusarium species that cause corn stalk rot in the Ubaté valley of Cundinamarca, Colombia. Agron. Colomb. 2022, 40, 237-248.

ABNT

MALDONADO-ARCHILA, G.; LIGARRETO-MORENO, G.; GÓMEZ-CARO, S. Fusarium species that cause corn stalk rot in the Ubaté valley of Cundinamarca, Colombia. Agronomía Colombiana, [S. l.], v. 40, n. 2, p. 237–248, 2022. DOI: 10.15446/agron.colomb.v40n2.102465. Disponível em: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/agrocol/article/view/102465. Acesso em: 10 nov. 2025.

Chicago

Maldonado-Archila, Germán, Gustavo Ligarreto-Moreno, and Sandra Gómez-Caro. 2022. “Fusarium species that cause corn stalk rot in the Ubaté valley of Cundinamarca, Colombia”. Agronomía Colombiana 40 (2):237-48. https://doi.org/10.15446/agron.colomb.v40n2.102465.

Harvard

Maldonado-Archila, G., Ligarreto-Moreno, G. and Gómez-Caro, S. (2022) “Fusarium species that cause corn stalk rot in the Ubaté valley of Cundinamarca, Colombia”, Agronomía Colombiana, 40(2), pp. 237–248. doi: 10.15446/agron.colomb.v40n2.102465.

IEEE

[1]
G. Maldonado-Archila, G. Ligarreto-Moreno, and S. Gómez-Caro, “Fusarium species that cause corn stalk rot in the Ubaté valley of Cundinamarca, Colombia”, Agron. Colomb., vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 237–248, May 2022.

MLA

Maldonado-Archila, G., G. Ligarreto-Moreno, and S. Gómez-Caro. “Fusarium species that cause corn stalk rot in the Ubaté valley of Cundinamarca, Colombia”. Agronomía Colombiana, vol. 40, no. 2, May 2022, pp. 237-48, doi:10.15446/agron.colomb.v40n2.102465.

Turabian

Maldonado-Archila, Germán, Gustavo Ligarreto-Moreno, and Sandra Gómez-Caro. “Fusarium species that cause corn stalk rot in the Ubaté valley of Cundinamarca, Colombia”. Agronomía Colombiana 40, no. 2 (May 1, 2022): 237–248. Accessed November 10, 2025. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/agrocol/article/view/102465.

Vancouver

1.
Maldonado-Archila G, Ligarreto-Moreno G, Gómez-Caro S. Fusarium species that cause corn stalk rot in the Ubaté valley of Cundinamarca, Colombia. Agron. Colomb. [Internet]. 2022 May 1 [cited 2025 Nov. 10];40(2):237-48. Available from: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/agrocol/article/view/102465

Download Citation

CrossRef Cited-by

CrossRef citations0

Dimensions

PlumX

Article abstract page views

1000

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.