Fusarium Mycotoxins

Specialists from a number of different disciplines have contributed to this book which presents actual basic and applied findings on Fusarium species, on their metabolites and taxonomy, in connection with pathogenicity to cereal plants and potato tubers. Over 100 metabolites produced by Fusaria are described together with results of studies on their occurrence in agricultural products, their metabolism in farm animals, and possibilities of elmination and detoxification during technological processes. Pathogenic Fusarium species are described from the point of view of their taxonomy, profiles of produced metabolites, ecology, pathogenicity and interaction with cereal tissues. Finally, some actual solutions to avoid cereal grain contamination are discussed, mainly in connection with agricultural practices and breeding programmes. The interdisciplinary and comprehensive nature of the book makes it particularly useful to all who are studying or teaching plant pathology, plant breeding, animal nutrition and any other area in which Fusaria and their metabolites play an important role.

It has been over 200 years since Fusarium pathogens were described for the first time, and they are still in the spotlight of researchers worldwide, mostly due to the mycotoxigenic abilities and the subsequent introduction of harmful metabolites into the food chain. The accelerating climatic changes are resulting in pathogen population and chemotype shifts all around the world, thus increasing the demand for continuous studies of factors that affect the virulence, disease severity and mycotoxin accumulation in plant tissues. This Special Issue summarizes recent advances in the field of Fusarium genetics, biology and toxicology.

Also included is a thorough review of the molecular genetics of both trichothecene and fumonisin biosynthesis, presenting more than 15 years of molecular biological research in an accessible form. Part one then reviews the natural occurrence and toxicity of agriculturally important mycotoxins, with historical case studies of suspected mycotoxicoses in humans and animals. These chapters also contain updates on the molecular genetics of additional mycotoxins and the importance of mycotoxins in plant diseases. This useful reference presents concise descriptions of mycotoxin-producing Fusarium species, as defined by the most recent concepts of fungal species biology and evolution. Each species' report includes a risk assessment based on its mycotoxin profile, occurrence in food and feed crops, and association with human and animal mycotoxicoses. Data on species distribution, mycotoxin profiles, and animal toxicity facilitate risk assessment for food and feed safety.

Health and safety of food and feed are the most important criteria for their quality. The quality of feed is in turn important for animal health, the environment and for the safety of food from animal origin. Fungi belonging to the Fusarium genus are widespread in crops causing plant diseases and producing toxic metabolites. Fusarium species can colonize plants during their growth on the field and cause serious damage in terms of yield and quality of harvested grains. One of the most important fungal diseases of wheat and other cereals in the world is Fusariumhead blight caused by the fungal pathogens Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorumand others. In addition, these fungi produce mycotoxins, contaminating food and feed. The most important Fusarium mycotoxins include trichothecenes, zearalenone and fumonisins, primarily because of their prevalence, but also because of the toxic effect to humans and animals. However, these fungi produce also other mycotoxins such as moniliformin, beauvericin, enniantin or fusarins. Food and feed can be contaminated with mycotoxins at various stages in the production chain resulting in serious problems with health, safety and economic losses. It is estimated that 25% of the crop in the world each year are contaminated with these metabolites, the problem affects both industrialized countries and developing countries. The aim of this Research Topic of Frontiers in Microbiology is to publish state of the art research about occurrence and genomics of Fusarium species and their mycotoxins in the whole food and feed chain starting from the crops as well as implications for health and economic aspects. This research topic highlights the current knowledge on the plant diseases caused by Fusarium fungi as well as all aspects of Fusarium mycotoxin contamination of crops, food and feed, taking into account decontamination methods.

The biosynthetic diversity of secondary metabolites; Epidemiology of fusarium ear diseases of cereals; Breeding for resistance to fusarium wheat and maize; Spectral characteristic of secondary metabolites; Penicillium and aspergillus toxins; Ecological aspects of growth and mycotoxin production by storage fungi; Alternaria toxins; Immunotoxic effects of mycotoxins; Toxicology of mycotoxins; Residues in food products of animal origin; Decontamination of fusarium mycotoxins; Prevention of human mycotozicoses through risk assessment and risk management; Factors responsible for economic losses due to fusarium mycotoxin contamination of grains, foods, and feedstuffs; Diseases in humans with mycotoxins as possible causes.

The main object in this work was to make a risk assessment of some selected fusarium toxins. A review of the available toxicological data of the selected toxins have been made and temporary tolerable daily intakes (tTDIs) have been established. The risk assessments presented include estimations of the dietary intakes in the Nordic countries. Short reviews on fusarenon-X, fusarin C, diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) and moniliformin were also made. The report also contains a brief introduction to the classification of Fusarium and toxin production by the fungi as well as a review of chemicals analytic methods for determination of the different toxins.

Mycotoxins, from the Greek "mukes" referring to fungi or slime molds and toxin from the Latin "toxicum" referencing a poison for arrows, have earned their reputation for being potentially deleterious to the health and well being of a consuming organism, whether it be animal or human. Unfortunately, mycotoxins are a ubiquitous factor in the natural life cycle of food producing plants. As such, control of the potential impact of mycotoxins on food safety relies heavily upon accurate analysis and surveys followed by commodity segregation and restricted use or decontamination through processing. The purpose of this book is to provide the most comprehensive and current information on the topic of mycotoxins and assuring food safety. Chapters represented in the book reflect such diverse topics ranging from occurrence and impact, analysis, reduction through processing and plant breeding, toxicology and safety assessments to regulatory perspectives. Authors represent a range of international perspectives.