Occurrence of Fusarium and its toxins in wheat in Luxembourg

摘要

Wheat is, after maize, the most impor-tant crop in terms of human consumption worldwide, with a global production of ca. 630 mio. t/year (2005). Among the most crucial factors limiting crop yield are los-ses caused by fungi, such as those belon-ging to the genus Fusarium, causing fusarium head blight (FHB). In addition to crop yield reduction, Fusarium, depending on the species, are able to produce a va-riety of mycotoxins, namely deoxynivale-nol (DON), acetylated-DON (ac-DON), nivalenol (NIV), HT-2 and T-2 toxin, and zearalenone (ZON), which may cause reduction in the quality of food products (e.g. flattened bread), but also acute nausea, and with prolonged intake, interior organ da-mage, infertility, and cancer.