Mycotoxins Associated to Fusarium Species that Caused Fusarium Head Blight in Wheat in Latin-America

Abstract

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is an important disease affecting the production of wheat worldwide. Fusarium species are causal agents of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) in cereals and Fusarium graminearum (Schwabe) (teleomorph Gibberella zeae (Schwein.)) is considered the main cause of the disease. FHB incidence reduces grain yields and also produces fungal toxins, primarily trichothecenes, that contaminate grains used for human and animal consumption. The most common trichothecenes produced by F. graminearum are Deoxynivalenol (DON), its acetyl derivatives 3- acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3ADON) and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15ADON), nivalenol (NIV), and its acetylated derivative 4-acetyl-nivalenol (4ANIV or fusarenone X). Another point of remarkable interest is the increase in the presence of other casual agents of FHB as F. poae, a relatively weak pathogen compared with F. graminearum, but capable of produce a large number of mycotoxins, including trichothecenes of type A and B, beauvericin and enniatins. Several toxins were identified in wheat in years of epidemic FHB development. All reports showed the preponderance of DON. Surveys on Fusarium mycotoxins in small-grain cereals and their by-products are frequently conducted in the major production regions of the world such as North America and Europe, but information in South America is scarce and previous evidence has placed DON as the main Fusarium toxin detected in wheat and by-products in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.