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CropMonitor > Winter Wheat > Encyclopaedia > Fusarium Head Blight > Mycotoxin Incidence 1998  


Incidence of mycotoxins (1998)
 
In 1998 the national winter wheat disease survey carried out at CSL indicated the highest incidence of FHB since our records started in 1986. A DEFRA/HGCA funded project (HGCA project report No. 207) was carried out to investigate the epidemic.

Farms included in the survey were selected from the winter wheat disease survey where disease levels were assessed at greater than 30% of plants infected. Grain collected from each farm was analysed for FHB pathogens and trichothecene mycotoxins present.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by some of the FHB pathogens in the UK. It is thought that in some cases the role of the toxin may be to aid infection of the plant by the pathogen. Mycotoxins are of concern due to their potentially harmful effect to both humans and animals.
 
Mycotoxins produced by FHB pathogens in the UK include:
 
Fusarium species Main mycotoxins produced
F. culmorum Deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, zearalenone
F. graminearum Deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, zearalenone
F. avenaceum Enniatins
F. poae HT-2 and T-2 toxins, diacetoxyscirpenol, nivalenol
M. nivale None confirmed
 
The European Commission is currently evaluating the risk posed by a number of trichothecenes toxins produced by Fusarium species. These include deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin and zearalenone. Maximum limits in foodstuffs will be introduced shortly.
 
 
Trichothecene mycotoxins detected during the 1998 FHB survey
Analysis of grain samples for trichothecene mycotoxins was carried out using GC/MS.
  • All but one of the samples examined contained one or more trichothecenes.

  • The most common mycotoxins encountered were deoxynivalenol, nivalenol and HT2-toxin found in 96.2%, 84.9% and 37.7% of the samples respectively.

  • Although trichothecene contamination of the grain samples was widespread, the levels encountered were generally low.
 
The predominant species responsible for the 1998 FHB outbreak was M. nivale, a non-toxin producer. It is the predominance of this species that accounts for the generally low toxin levels encountered during the survey.
 
 
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