The Major Mycotoxins Produced by Fusarium Fungi and their Effects

Abstract

Fungi of the genus Fusarium are common plant pathogens occurring worldwide, mainly associated with cereal crops. Fusarium species can produce over one hundred secondary metabolites, some of which can unfavourably affect human and animal health. The most important Fusarium mycotoxins that can frequently occur at biologically significant concentrations in cereals are fumonisins, zearalenone and trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, nivalenol and T-2 toxin). Fusarium mycotoxins contamination of cereals can cause economic losses at all levels of food and feed production including crop and animal production, and crop processing.