toxins Review Fusarium-Produced Mycotoxins in Plant-Pathogen Interactions Lakshmipriya Perincherry , Justyna Lalak-Ka ´nczugowska and Łukasz St˛epie´n* Plant-Pathogen Interaction Team, Department of Pathogen Genetics and Plant Resistance, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszy´nska34, 60-479 Pozna´n,Poland;
[email protected] (L.P.);
[email protected] (J.L.-K.) * Correspondence:
[email protected] Received: 29 October 2019; Accepted: 12 November 2019; Published: 14 November 2019 Abstract: Pathogens belonging to the Fusarium genus are causal agents of the most significant crop diseases worldwide. Virtually all Fusarium species synthesize toxic secondary metabolites, known as mycotoxins; however, the roles of mycotoxins are not yet fully understood. To understand how a fungal partner alters its lifestyle to assimilate with the plant host remains a challenge. The review presented the mechanisms of mycotoxin biosynthesis in the Fusarium genus under various environmental conditions, such as pH, temperature, moisture content, and nitrogen source. It also concentrated on plant metabolic pathways and cytogenetic changes that are influenced as a consequence of mycotoxin confrontations. Moreover, we looked through special secondary metabolite production and mycotoxins specific for some significant fungal pathogens-plant host models. Plant strategies of avoiding the Fusarium mycotoxins were also discussed. Finally, we outlined the studies on the potential of plant secondary metabolites in defense reaction to Fusarium infection. Keywords: fungal pathogens; Fusarium; pathogenicity; secondary metabolites Key Contribution: The review summarized the knowledge and recent reports on the involvement of Fusarium mycotoxins in plant infection processes, as well as the consequences for plant metabolism and physiological changes related to the pathogenesis.