Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
J. Anim. Plant Sci. [ISSN 2071 - 7024]
Volume 21(2): 3326 - 3343. Published April, 2014.
The Importance of Fusarium Fungi in Wheat Cultivation – Pathogenicity and Mycotoxins Production: A Review
Natalia K. Kotowicz, Magdalena Frąc, Jerzy Lipiec
Institute of Agrophysics Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland
E-mail: n.kotowicz@ipan.lublin.pl
Corresponding author: m.frac@ipan.lublin.pl
Keywords: Fusarium, wheat diseases, fungicide control, mycotoxins
1. ABSTRACT
Globally, cereals occupy about 50% of arable land. In Poland, that
share is over 70%. In the structure of cereal crops, wheat is a
dominant species. It occupies an area of 2.2 million hectares. The
major part of this area is winter wheat, which is responsive to
infection by pathogenic fungi. In recent years, the occurrence of
pathogenic fungi of the genus Fusarium has been increasing. Their
harmful effect consists of deterioration of the quality and quantity of
yield and production of mycotoxins that can pose a threat to plants,
animals and humans. In order to prevent the development of fusariosis,
fungicides are used. However, incompetent and intensive use of
fungicides may induce the resistance in strains previously sensitive to
those substances. The aim of this essay is to present the problem of
pathogenic Fusarium species occurrence in wheat crops and to discuss
methods of fungicide control and related problems.
FULL PAPER [PDF AVAILABLE HERE ]
