Abstract
Fusarium diseases of small grain cereals and maize cause significant yield losses worldwide. Fusarium infections result in reduced grain yield and contamination with mycotoxins, some of which have a notable impact on human and animal health. Regulations on maximum limits have been established in various countries to protect consumers from the harmful effects of these mycotoxins. Several factors are involved in Fusarium disease and mycotoxin occurrence and among them environmental factors and the agronomic practices have been shown to deeply affect mycotoxin contamination in the field. In the present review particular emphasis will be placed on how environmental conditions and stress factors for the crops can affect Fusarium infection and mycotoxin production, with the aim to provide useful knowledge to develop strategies to prevent mycotoxin accumulation in cereals.
Highlights
Fusarium toxins are secondary metabolites produced by toxigenic fungi that naturally contaminate cereals, they represent a source of grave concern in cereals and cereal-based products, resulting in harmful contamination of foods and feedstuffs [3]
Fusarium disease occurs in cereals when plants, fungal pathogens and environmental conditions are conducive for infection
Fusarium disease incidence under similar environmental and conductive conditions is related to the abundance of inoculum present, such as environmental inoculum, infected crop debris, weeds and phytophagous insects
Summary
Fusarium is one of the most economically important genera of phytopathogenic fungi. Several. The variability in the predominance of F. poae is highly influenced by the climate conditions of locations that are characterized by cold and moisture, where this fungus presents a high frequency but a lower density compared with warmer areas This suggests the greater adaptability of F. poae under certain agro-environmental conditions where other Fusarium spp., such as F. graminearum, are less favoured. Fusarium belonging to Discolor section are well represented on maize ears that are not damaged by insects [23] This behaviour appears to be linked to the different ways in which Fusarium colonizes ears; F. verticillioides, which is characterized by low virulence, typically infects plants through injuries [24] and in lesser extent silks [25], while F. graminearum is highly virulent and can strongly infect plant tissues [26].
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