The fungal phytopathogen in Fusarium species can cause Fusarium head blight of wheat, barley, oats, and other small cereal grain crops worldwide. Most importantly, these fungi can produce different kinds of mycoxins, and they are harmful to humans and animal health. FAO reported that approximately 25% of the world’s grains were contaminated by mycotoxins annually. This chapter will focus on several topics as below: (1) composition of Fusarium graminearum species complex; (2) genotype determination of Fusarium graminearum species complex strains from different hosts and their population structure changes; (3) genetic approaches to genotype determination in type B-trichothecene producing Fusaria fungi; and (4) some newly identified trichothecene mycotoxins, their toxicity, and distribution of the producers.
Part of the book: Mycotoxins and Food Safety