Fusarium pseudograminearum Isolates Show Enhanced Growth and Na+ Uptake but Suppressed Mycotoxin Production After Exposure to NaCl at Different Temperatures
by
, , , , and
Emiliano Delli Compagni
1,*
,
Mario Masiello
2,
Miriam Haidukowski
2,
Giulia Carmassi
1
,
Antonio Moretti
2
,
Alberto Pardossi
1,3
and
Susanna Pecchia
1,3,* 1
Department of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
2
Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council—CNR-ISPA, Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
3
Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biology 2026, 15(3), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15030280
Submission received: 29 December 2025
/
Revised: 21 January 2026
/
Accepted: 1 February 2026
/
Published: 4 February 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Young Researchers in Plant Sciences)
Simple Summary
In the context of increasing global environmental changes, understanding the adaptive mechanisms of plant pathogens is crucial for mitigating their impact on agriculture and natural ecosystems. This study tested the hypothesis that the ability of a fungal pathogen to infect a halophytic plant may indicate a halophilic or halotolerant lifestyle. To investigate this, the physiological responses of Fusarium pseudograminearum isolate 3B, originally isolated from the halophyte Salicornia europaea, were compared with other F. pseudograminearum isolates under different NaCl concentrations (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 g L−1) and temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C). The experimental design included the assessment of (i) daily growth rate on PDA medium, (ii) mycotoxin production, and (iii) hyphal accumulation of K+ and Na+. The results demonstrated that isolate 3B exhibits physiological traits consistent with halophily. Overall, these findings suggest that adaptation to saline environments may play a role in the ecological success and pathogenic potential of F. pseudograminearum.
Abstract
Several Fusarium species have demonstrated the ability to thrive in saline soils and to tolerate or prefer high salt concentrations. In this context, the potential halophilic or halotolerant lifestyle of Fusarium pseudograminearum was investigated. Four isolates (3B, PVS-Fu 7, ColPat-1, and CBS 109956) were grown at different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C) and NaCl concentrations (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 g L−1), and daily growth, mycotoxin production, and K+ and Na+ accumulation within hyphae were assessed. All F. pseudograminearum isolates exhibited strong adaptability to saline conditions, with significantly enhanced growth in the presence of NaCl. All isolates accumulated Na+ within their hyphae while retaining K+. The production of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) was generally suppressed following NaCl exposure, consistent with the known inhibitory effect of reduced water activity on mycotoxin biosynthesis. However, at 22 °C, two isolates, 3B and CBS 109956, showed no significant differences in ZEA production between the control (no salt) and the medium containing the lowest NaCl concentration tested (7 g L−1). Notably, isolate 3B, obtained from the halophyte Salicornia europaea, retained the highest levels of both Na+ and K+ within hyphae and showed the greatest overall adaptation to salinity. These results confirm the hypothesis that the ability of F. pseudograminearum to colonize and infect a halophytic host is indicative of a halophilic lifestyle. In the context of increasing soil salinization, these findings help identify conditions that permit pathogen persistence without hazardous mycotoxin accumulation.
