Carbon Dioxide Mediates the Response to Temperature and Water Activity Levels in Aspergillus flavus during Infection of Maize Kernels.

ABSTRACT: Aspergillus flavus is a saprophytic fungus that may colonize several important crops, including cotton, maize, peanuts and tree nuts. Concomitant with A. flavus colonization is its potential to secrete mycotoxins, of which the most prominent is aflatoxin. Temperature, water activity (a_w) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) are three environmental factors shown to influence the fungus-plant interaction, which are predicted to undergo significant changes in the next century. In this study, we used RNA sequencing to better understand the transcriptomic response of the fungus to a_w, temperature, and elevated CO₂ levels. We demonstrate that aflatoxin (AFB₁) production on maize grain was altered by water availability, temperature and CO₂. RNA-Sequencing data indicated th

SUBMITTER: Gilbert MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5793092 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature