Effect of lodging on the level of mycotoxins in wheat, barley, and rice infected with the Fusarium graminearum species complex

Abstract

Lodging is one possible risk factor that leads to increased cereal mycotoxin contamination, but few reports have been published on the subject. We examined the effects of lodging on the level of deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) contamination in wheat, barley, and rice infected with the Fusarium graminearum species complex. Case-control and intervention studies were applied to test the hypothesis that lodging increases the level of mycotoxin contamination. A total of 66 grain samples were collected from each field in 12 Japanese prefectures from 2002 to 2006. Each sample set consisted of grains from lodged and nonlodged plants. The concentration of DON + NIV in lodged plants was significantly higher than in nonlodged plants. All samples of wheat and barley were contaminated with DON and NIV; however, most of the lodged rice samples were contaminated only with NIV. In intervention trials to investigate the effects of lodging duration, a small area of wheat inoculated with the pathogen was completely lodged by trampling. Even with 5 days of lodging, the levels of DON + NIV in wheat grain at harvest increased by 27-51% compared to nonlodged control plots. For rice, half of each plot area was completely lodged by trampling 20 days before harvest.The level of NIV in lodged rice grain was significantly higher than that in nonlodged rice at optimum and delayed harvests, because lodging significantly increased the level of Fusarium mycotoxins in the three crops. Thus, practices (e.g., rational use of fertilizers) to avoid lodging should reduce the risk of mycotoxin contamination. This is the first epidemiological study on the effect of lodging on mycotoxin production by the F. graminearum species complex in wheat, barley, and rice.

Seeding Rate, Nitrogen Rate, and Cultivar Effects on Malting Barley Production

“…In a previous study, relatively high N rates were also shown to increase lodging in barley (Spaner et al, 2001). Lodging can adversely aff ect barley yield and quality (Jedel and Helm, 1991)) and increase mycotoxin contamination (Nakajima et al, 2008).…”

Airborne fungal succession in a rice field of Cuba

“…Although none of these species were abundant in the study plot, their presence could be used to establish guidelines for good agricultural practices to minimize the risks of mycotoxin contamination of cereal products (Nakajima et al 2008). Interest in this genus is increasing worldwide due to the discovery of a growing number of naturallyoccuring Fusarium toxins that have proved to be a threat to human and animal health (Kharunakara Murthy et al 2009).…”

Colonisation of winter wheat grain byFusariumspp. and mycotoxin content as dependent on a wheat variety, crop rotation, a crop management system and weather conditions

“…Our data are also consistent with results of Bernhoft et al (2012), who reported that F. langsethiae was less frequent in lodged fields. Bernhoft et al (2012) also reported that lodged fields were connected to increased infestation by F. graminearum, and Nakajima et al (2008) observed the formation of abundant perithecia on the spikes of lodged wheat at harvest. However, in our experiment, the high content of DON in 'Bogatka's grain in 2010 was not accompanied with high percentage of 'Bogatka's kernels infected by F. graminearum.…”

“…Moreover, analysis of variance showed that DON and ZEA content in the Bernhoft et al (2012) reported that low temperature before harvest was the factor found to increase DON concentration in wheat grain. Also Nakajima et al (2008) found that lodging had a significant increasing effect on DON and nivalenol content in wheat grain. Our data are also consistent with results of Bernhoft et al (2012), who reported that F. langsethiae was less frequent in lodged fields.…”