Research Publications (Food Safety)

This review article focuses on recent progress in understanding the toxins, pathogens and management of ergot, an important disease of cereals that affects food safety. Abstract Ergot is a fungal disease of many plants but is perhaps most commonly associated with domesticated grasses or cereals, such as rye, wheat, barley, oat, sorghum, millet, maize and rice.

Alternaria alternata dominated in wheat grains from China with high toxin production capacity and distinct pathogenicity to wheat and apple. Abstract Alternaria is an important toxigenic fungal genus endangering the quality of cereal grains. No data are available in the literature regarding the composition of Alternaria species in wheat from the main wheat‐cultivating regions of China. In this study, a total of 282 strains were isolated from wheat kernels collected in various provinces.

There is a need for comprehensive but user‐friendly weather‐based models for FHB, FDK and mycotoxin prediction in small‐cereal crops with a focus on simplicity and real‐time application to aid in effective disease management. Abstract Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most devastating crop diseases worldwide, significantly reducing the yield and quality of small‐cereal crops such as wheat and barley when favourable weather conditions exist during anthesis.

Large‐spored Alternaria species lose pathogenicity after treatment with the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor 2‐aminoethoxyvinyl glycine (AVG), while for small‐spored species pathogenicity increased. Abstract Alternaria species are notorious pathogens of solanaceous crops and are known to produce a plethora of toxins. Nevertheless, the involvement of toxins or other virulence factors in Alternaria infections on potato plants has never been investigated.

Trichoderma atroviride seems to be a potential biocontrol agent against Fusarium graminearum by altering the expression of genes related to vital processes in fungal life cycle. Abstract The use of Trichoderma spp. offers an ecologically friendly tool for the struggle with mycotoxigenic Fusarium spp. Here, the alterations in transcriptome level were investigated in 6‐day‐old Fusarium graminearum cultures treated with Trichoderma atroviride and nontreated with T.

The phylogenetic distinction between F. graminearum and F. meridionale is supported by phenotypic differences such as aggressiveness, mycotoxin production, mycelial growth and reproduction, and tebuconazole sensitivity. Abstract Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat and Gibberella ear and stalk rot (GER and GSR) of maize are diseases of worldwide importance.

Plant Pathology, EarlyView.

Plant Pathology, EarlyView.

Plant Pathology, EarlyView.

Plant Pathology, Volume 71, Issue 1, Page 170-186, January 2022.

Plant Pathology, Volume 71, Issue 1, Page 150-169, January 2022.

Plant Pathology, Volume 71, Issue 1, Page 30-42, January 2022.

Plant Pathology, Accepted Article. Previous studies demonstrated that a reduction in germination of Colletotrichum alienum conidia could be achieved following treatment with cold plasma (CP) or incubation with plasma-activated water (PAW). In this study, the mode of action of CP and PAW on C. alienum conidia was explored using transmission electron microscopy.

ABSTRACT Light represents a signal in the regulation of virulence in many microbial pathogens. Two stone fruit, nectarines and cherries, were used to investigate the light influence on brown caused by Monilinia laxa. Three single‐spore strains were inoculated on nectarines and incubated under different white lights, red light, blue light, green light, and black light with two photoperiods. To understand the effect of daylight irradiance on brown rot, M.

Cold plasma, an ionised gas produced by applying an electrical current to air, can be used to produce plasma activated water (PAW) which has excellent antimicrobial properties. In this study PAW was applied to conidia of Colletotrichum alienum to investigate its impact on conidial germination in vitro.

Push‐pull involves intercropping of cereals with Desmodium as a ‘push’ crop and planting Napier grass/Brachiaria as the ‘pull’ crop at the border. The technology has been reported to effectively control stemborers, striga weed and fall armyworm (FAW), and to improve soil nutrition resulting in increased grain yield.

Fusarium proliferatum is a globally distributed fungal pathogen that affects a range of crop hosts and is one of the main producers of mycotoxins in foods such as fumonisins. Specific PCR primers are commonly used for detection and identification of this pathogen. The aim of this study was to validate previously published F.

Root‐lesion nematodes of the genus Pratylenchus are migratory endoparasites with worldwide economic impact on several important crops including potato, where certain species like P. penetrans, P. neglectus and P. scribneri reduce the yield and quality of potato tubers. Morphological identification of Pratylenchus spp. is challenging, and recent advancements in molecular techniques provide robust and rapid diagnostics to differentiate species without need of specialist skills.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential role of gramineous weeds present near paddy fields as alternative hosts for the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) that causes Fusarium head blight (FHB) in rice. 142 weed samples were collected from 10 gramineous weed species near paddy fields from August to October 2018 in Jiangsu Province, China. Of the 145 isolates of seven Fusarium species isolated from the weed samples, F.

This study investigated the use of cold plasma to reduce the in vitro growth of two postharvest fungal plant pathogens, Colletotrichum alienum and C. fioriniae, isolated from avocados. Cold plasma (CP) was used to treat pure cultures and conidial suspensions of both pathogens, for 180 or 360 s, in either open or sealed environments from varying distances.

Fungal mycotoxins are important contaminants of agricultural commodities that pose serious concerns to producers, consumers and exporters. Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic metabolite produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. These fungi and other mould species living in the soil contaminate several crops including maize.