IDENTIFICATION OF DIFFERENT FUSARIUM SPP. IN ALLIUM SPP. IN GERMANY

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Plant Pathology
• Food Safety

Background:

• Fusarium species are common plant pathogens and can produce mycotoxins.
• Allium crops are susceptible to Fusarium infections.
• Mycotoxin contamination in food poses risks to human and animal health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and diversity of Fusarium species in Allium crops in Germany.
• To identify specific Fusarium species and assess their mycotoxin-producing potential.

Main Methods:

• Samples of Allium cepa bulbs, seeds, and sets from various German locations were collected in 2013 and 2014.
• Edible Allium species from local markets were also analyzed.
• Fusarium species were isolated and identified using morphological characterization.

Main Results:

• 24 different Fusarium species were identified across the analyzed Allium samples.
• Infestation levels and species diversity were higher in edible bulbs and market Allium compared to seeds and sets.
• Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani were the most prevalent species, capable of producing toxins like enniatins and fumonisins.
• Fusarium proliferatum, a producer of beauvericins and zearalenone, was found in approximately half of the sampled onion fields and 10% of analyzed onions.
• New descriptions of Fusarium sporotrichioides and Fusarium poae in Allium species were noted.

Conclusions:

• Allium crops in Germany are frequently infested with a diverse range of mycotoxin-producing Fusarium species.
• The presence of multiple Fusarium species capable of producing a broad spectrum of mycotoxins represents a potential health risk to consumers and livestock.
• Further research into control measures and risk assessment is warranted.