Fumonisin Producing Capacity of Fusarium Strains Isolated from Cereals in Spain

A total of 147 Fusarium spp., predominantly from the section Liseola were isolated from cereals in Catalonia, Spain. Fusarium moniliforme was the predominant species (85.7%) isolated from these grains. Other species·included Fusarium sporotrichoides , Fusarium heterosporum , Fusarium tricinctum , Fusarium poae , Fusarium anthophilum and Fusarium subglutinans . The ability of these isolates and species to produce fumonisin B₁ and B₂ was assessed on moist sterile corn. This showed that about 34% of the strains from the section Liseola produced both fumonisin B₁ and B₂ although the quantities varied considerably. One isolate of F. subglutinans was demonstrated to produce both fumonisin B₁ and B₂.