Abstract
Mycotoxins in small grains are a significant and long-standing problem. These contaminants may be produced by members of several fungal genera, including Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Claviceps, and Penicillium. Interventions that limit contamination can be made both pre-harvest and post-harvest. Many problems and strategies to control them and the toxins they produce are similar regardless of the location at which they are employed, while others are more common in some areas than in others. Increased knowledge of host-plant resistance, better agronomic methods, improved fungicide management, and better storage strategies all have application on a global basis. We summarize the major pre- and post-harvest control strategies currently in use. In the area of pre-harvest, these include resistant host lines, fungicides and their application guided by epidemiological models, and multiple cultural practices. In the area of post-harvest, drying, storage, cleaning and sorting, and some end-product processes were the most important at the global level. We also employed the Nominal Group discussion technique to identify and prioritize potential steps forward and to reduce problems associated with human and animal consumption of these grains. Identifying existing and potentially novel mechanisms to effectively manage mycotoxin problems in these grains is essential to ensure the safety of humans and domesticated animals that consume these grains.
Highlights
In 2019/2020, global small-grain production was: wheat—764 million metric tons (MMT), barley—156 MMT, oats—23 MMT, and rye—12 MMT [1]
We focus on toxins in small grains, primarily wheat, and the fungi, primarily F. graminearum, responsible for them
Fusarium asiaticum appears to dominate on wheat grown in a wheat–rice rotation, while F. graminearum dominates in wheat–maize rotations [70]
Summary
In 2019/2020, global small-grain production was: wheat—764 million metric tons (MMT), barley—156 MMT, oats—23 MMT, and rye—12 MMT [1]. As much as half of the grain harvested globally may be lost postharvest to poor storage, waste and mycotoxin contamination, with a similar amount never harvested due to biotic and abiotic agents [3]. Since the turn of the century, more than 10,000 papers (Web of Science) have been published on mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, ergot, nivalenol, ochratoxin A, and zearalenone) and fungi that produce them on wheat and other small grains, yet the global levels of contamination have not been greatly reduced. Scab epidemics have occurred in all major grain-growing regions in the world. We focus on toxins in small grains, primarily wheat, and the fungi, primarily F. graminearum (the major FHB pathogen), responsible for them. Results from a Nominal Group discussion session held at the 2nd International MycoKey Conference in Wuhan, China (September 2018) are presented to identify critical areas in which future efforts to control these diseases could be made
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