Charles P Woloshuk

Professor

Department: Botany and Plant Pathology
Phone: 765.494.3450
Fax: 765.494.0363
Office: Lilly Hall, Room 1-420
E-mail: woloshuk@purdue.edu

Area of Expertise: Corn/Mycotoxin Pathology - genetics, biochemistry, and physiology of mycotoxin biosynthesis.

Research Interests

Mycotoxins are chemicals produced by fungi growing on food commodities. These toxins are important because they are deleterious to the health of animals or humans.

Many fungi that produce mycotoxins are also plant pathogens. It is not unusual for crops such as peanuts, corn and wheat to be contaminated with mycotoxins prior to harvesting because of severe disease problems. In Indiana, we are most concerned about four mycotoxins (aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and fumonisin) associated with ear rot diseases of corn.

Research:

The long range goals of my research program are to investigate the biosynthesis of various mycotoxins and to develop novel approaches for eliminating the risk of mycotoxin contamination of food sources. Research on the molecular biology of mycotoxin biosynthesis will reveal vulnerable points in the pathways that can be targets for control. Potential approaches include: the identification of chemicals that specifically inhibit mycotoxin biosynthesis; the genetic engineering of plants that express inhibitors of mycotoxin biosynthesis; and the production of biocontrol agents that produce inhibitors of mycotoxin biosynthesis. Another goal is to use these mycotoxin-producing fungi as model systems to advance the current understanding of secondary metabolism in fungi.

Extension:

My extension responsibility is mycotoxins associated with grain production. Mycotoxins are a concern in both corn and wheat crops prior to harvest and during storage. The objective of my extension effort is to inform and educate the grain producers, handlers, and processors about mycotoxins. Surveying fields for disease and mycotoxins is a major component of his program, because diseases prior to harvest are the primary source of mycotoxins. From these surveys, I inform those in the grain industry of the potential mycotoxins present at harvest. The information is distributed through extension newsletters, workshops and telephone conversations. This information is used by the grain industry for deciding how grain should be handled. My extension program addresses molds and mycotoxin problems that occur in storage because of insect feeding or poor grain management. I also have a hands-on workshop on the use of mycotoxin test kits.

Extension Bulletins:

        * Moldy Grains, Mycotoxins and Feeding Problems
        * Mycotoxins and Mycotoxin Test Kits
        * Blue Eye in Corn

- Recent Publications

Ma, L. J., Van Der Does, H. C., Borkovich, K. A., Coleman, J. J., Daboussi, M. J., Di Petro, A., . . . Rep, M. (2010). Comparative genomics reveals mobile pathogenicity chromosomes in Fusarium. Nature, 464, 367-373.

Woloshuk, C. P., Georgianna, D., Fedorova, N., Burroughs, J., Dolezal, A., Bok, J. W., . . . Payne, G. (2010). Beyond aflatoxin: four distinct expression patterns and functional roles associated with Aspergillus flavus secondary metabolism gene clusters. Molecular Plant Pathology, 11, 213-226.

Lee, H., Damsz, B., Woloshuk, C. P., Bressan, R. A., & Narasimhan, M. L. (2010). Use of the plant defense protein osmotin to identify Fusarium oxysporum genes that control cell wall properties. Eukaryotic Cell, 9, 558-568.

Suanthie, Y., Cousin, M. A., & Woloshuk, C. P. (2009). Multiplex Real-Time PCR for Detection and Quantification of Mycotoxigenic Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium. Journal of Stored Product Research, 45, 139-145.

Bluhm, B. H., Kim, H., Butchko, R. A. E., & Woloshuk, C. P. (2008). Involvement of ZFR1 of Fusarium verticillioides in kernel colonization and the regulation of FST1, a putative sugar transporter gene required for fumonisin biosynthesis on maize kernels. Molecular Plant Pathology, 9(2), 203–211.

Kim, H., & Woloshuk, C. P. (2008). Role of AREA, a regulator of nitrogen metabolism, during colonization of maize kernels and fumonisin biosynthesis in Fusarium verticillioides. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 45, 947-953.

Kim, Y. H., Woloshuk, C. P., Cho, E. H., Bao, J. M., Song, Y. S., & Huh, G. H. (2007). Cloning and functional expression of the gene encoding an inhibitor against Aspergillus flavus a-amylase, a novel seed lectin from Lablab purpureau (Dolichos lablab). Plant Cell Reports, 26, 395-405.

Ileleji, K. E., Maier, D. E., & Woloshuk, C. P. (2007). Evalulation of different temperature management strategies for suppression of Sitophilus zeamais. Journal Stored Product Research, 43, 480-488.

Smith, C. A., Woloshuk, C. P., Robertson, D., & Payne, G. A. (2007). Silencing of the aflatoxin gene cluster in a diploid strain of Aspergillus flavus is suppressed by ectopic aflR expression. Genetics, 176, 2077-2086.

Bluhm, B. H., & Woloshuk, C. P. (2005). Amylopectin induces fumonisin B1 production by fusarium verticillioides during colonization of maize kernels. Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions, 12, 1333-1339.

+ Patents

+ News Releases

Released	URL	Source
10/27/2011	Corn molds of little concern in 2011, despite weather	Ag Answers
10/9/2009	Gray and pink molds being found in Indiana cornfields	University News Service
3/4/2008	Defining gene's role may lead to prevention of dangerous corn toxin	University News Service
9/28/2005	Summer's hot, dry weather leads to ear rot concerns in corn	University News Service
11/12/2002	Purdue experts caution horse owners about corn	University News Service
2/7/2002	Purdue center aims at preventing, detecting food contamination	University News Service