Fusarium head blight and mycotoxin contamination of wheat, a review

Abstract

SummaryAn infection of bread wheat by fusarium head blight contaminates the crop with mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (N1V). The toxicity and natural occurrence of these mycotoxins in wheat are reviewed. Based on 8 years data of fusarium head blight epidemics of wheat in the Netherlands, DON contamination of the grain was estimated. Fusarium head blight ratings averaged an infection of 1.7% of all spikelets; estimates for DON contamination averaged 0.9 mg kg -1. Taking a guideline level for DON in uncleaned bread wheat of 2 mg kg -I , in 1979 and 1982 a wheat crop was produced with estimated DON concentrations above the limit of tolerance. Human and animal exposure to mycotoxins in the Netherlands appears to be small but chronic. The information presented in this paper illustrates the need for an annual evaluation of the crop for fusarium head blight incidence and mycotoxin content, and the necessity of fusarium head blight resistant wheat cultivars.

Multilocus sequence analysis of Fusarium pseudograminearum reveals a single phylogenetic species

“…Epidemics of these diseases result in high economic losses through reduced grain quality and quantity. Of particular concern is the contamination of infected grains with mycotoxins, such as the trichothecenes dexoynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV), which pose threats to both animal and human health upon consumption (Snijders 1990).…”

Impact of Fungicide Timing on the Composition of the Fusarium Head Blight Disease Complex and the Presence of Deoxynivalenol (DON) in Wheat

“…There is extensive work on the effect of FHB on grain yields of cereals. For example, in breeding programs aiming to generate resistant cultivars, yield losses have been observed ranging from 6 up to 74% (Snijders 1990;Snijders & Perkowski 1990). Symptoms of Fusarium occur just after anthesis.…”

Controlling fusarium head blight of wheat (triticum aestivum L.) with genetics

“…In Canada, HB epidemics occurred about once every 9 years from 1927 to 1980 [3]. Clearly, FHB has been a major disease threatening wheat yields [20,[35][36][37].…”