PLNTPTH 2000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 25: Gibberella Zeae, Aspergillus Flavus, Fusarium
2 Apr 2017
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Document Summary
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites that cause toxic responses in mammals. Are produced by some of the most common and widespread fungi in the environment. Function: presumed to deter fungivory by mammals, insects, or other fungi; or to allow fungi to compete with animals and microbes for substrate. Mycotoxins are a current, continuing, chronic problem for world food producers. Estimated that 25% of world"s crops are contaminated with mycotoxins. May develop/increase during storage but not necessarily caused by storage because they are naturally occurring in various grain crops, develop during crop ripening. In the u. s. , most common crops with mycotoxins are: Yellow mold of peanut is caused by aspergillus flavus, a primary producer of aflatoxin. Fusarium ear rot of corn is caused by fusarium verticillioides, a primary producer of fumonisins. Mycotoxins also appear in meat, eggs, and dairy products. Which all lead to distribution and processing: Causes: equine leukoencephalomalacia, hole in head; esophageal cancer in humans.
