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Low risks of fusarium mycotoxin contamination
Latest results from the CropMonitor projects (funded by Defra/HGCA) show that the incidence of fusarium head blight (FHB) in England this year was lower than average with 2.5% ears affected nationally in 2006 compared to the 10-year average of 4.0%. The low level of FHB symptoms are primarily a result of the dry weather conditions which occurred over the majority of the England during flowering of the wheat crop in June.

The predominant species isolated from fusarium symptoms were F. poae and F. langsethiae, both species that prefer drier conditions for development. Occurrence of the deoxynivalenol producing species, F. graminearum and F. culmorum, was lower and more sporadic than in previous years. In general, F. graminearum was isolated from the east of England and F. culmorum from the west.

This is the first year that the new EU legislation for Fusarium mycotoxins will come into force. The low incidence of FHB means that the overall effects on yield and grain quality due to Fusarium species is also likely to be low. (The new legislation introduced in July 2006 sets maximum limits for fusarium mycotoxins in cereals and cereal products. Limits include 1250 ppb deoxynivalenol (DON) and 100 ppb zearalenone for unprocessed wheat intended for human consumption).

Grain collected from fields sampled for fusarium disease assessments will also be analysed for the fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone as part of an HGCA-funded project at Harper Adams University College. Early results from analyses of the first thirty CropMonitor samples also indicate that it is a low risk year for fusarium mycotoxins. Only four samples had detectable levels of DON, all less than 50 ppb and no samples had detectable levels of zearalenone.


Locations of fields with symptoms casued by F. culmorum and F. graminearum
map showing distribution of F.culmorum and F.graminearum

 
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This website was last updated on: 27/08/2008     © Crown Copyright Central Science Laboratory 2007
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All risk predictions published by CropMonitor are provided in good faith and are NOT a substitute for rigorous fieldwalking in combination with advice from BASIS qualified persons. CropMonitor accepts no liability for crop loss or damage resulting from the use of CropMonitor.