JSM Mycotoxins
Online ISSN : 1881-0128
Print ISSN : 0285-1466
ISSN-L : 0285-1466
Trichothecene occurrence in Japanese wheat and barley-its characteristics
Takumi YOSHIZAWAYin-Zhe JIN
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1998 Volume 1998 Issue 47 Pages 15-18

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Abstract
Deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) are trichothecene mycotoxins produced princi-pally by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe (telemorph Gibberella zeae (Schw.) Petch.), one of the major pathogenic fungi of head blight diseases in wheat and barley and rot in corn. They occur worldwide in these plant products intended for human and animal consumption, causing the economical loss and the health risk in humans and animals. In Japan, DON and NIV are recognized as two major trichothecenes coincidentally occurring in domestic wheat and barley grains. As for the mechanism of the epidemic of head blight disease and mycotoxin occurrence in wheat and barley, the following sequential steps are involved : i) the production of G. zeae perithecia on plant debris, like overwintered rice-stubbles, ii) the aerial ascospores dispersal from perithecia to infection sites (spikes), iii) the infection at anthesis and the clonization in spikes under the suitable moisture and temperature conditions, and iv) the fungal growth and the accumulation of mycotoxins in the process of head maturation. Although several papers have suggested the geographic difference in relation to the occurrence of trichothecenes in Japanese wheat and barley, there are only few reports studying the above steps systematically. Recently, we have attempted comprehensive chemical and mycological studies on the features of the occurrence of trichothecenes in Japan. This paper reviews the characteristics of natural occurrence of DON and NIV in Japanese wheat and barley.
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© Japanese Society of Mycotoxicology
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