Fusarium is a soilborne fungus which can live in soil for long periods of time. It is known to cause wilt, root rot and crown rot diseases in a diverse group of crop plants. Of all the diseases caused by Fusarium the most important are the vascular wilts. Pathogens that cause wilting usually enter their host plant through young roots and then grow into and up the water-conducting vessels of the root and stem. The vessels become blocked and water supply to the leaves is limited. This results in the potato plant being weak resulting in yellowing of leaves, browning of stems and production of smaller tubers. Fusarium is diverse and widely distributed and can be isolated from agricultural soils and plant material. The study was done to determine the occurrence of this pathogen in the South African potato industry. Samples of plant material showing wilt symptoms were collected from nine potato production regions. Fungal isolations were made from tubers using a Fusarium selective medium, i.e Peptone PCNB Agar. The isolates were examined morphologically and those resembling Fusarium were further identified using molecular techniques. DNA sequence analysis of the translation elongation factor 1-α gene was done on the isolates. DNA-based techniques have increasingly become the tool of choice for understanding the genetic diversity and phylogeny of Fusarium species. The pathogenicity of the isolates from all the regions was also investigated on potato cultivar Caren. The DNA results confirmed Fusarium as the pathogen causing Fusarium wilt on potatoes. Two species of Fusarium were identified; namely F. oxysporum and F. solani. F. oxysporum was more prevalent and occurred in all regions compared to F. solani. F. oxysporum is best known for the plant pathogenic strain, which cause wilt, root rot and crown rot diseases on a wide variety of crops, often limiting crop production. It is also known to be phylogenetically diverse. In the pathogenicity test, the isolates were found to be virulent and one was highly virulent therefore confirming their ability to cause wilting of potatoes. The effect of silicon on Fusarium wilt of potatoes was investigated in this study to assess its effectiveness in the control of Fusarium wilt. An in vitro study using potassium silicate was done to determine if silicon can inhibit the growth of Fusarium at different concentrations. The results showed that at low concentrations of potassium silicate the growth of Fusarium was not inhibited, while at a high concentration, there was inhibition. Greenhouse pot trials were conducted to determine the effect of silicon soil amendments on Fusarium wilt of potatoes, tuber yield and the production of phenolics in the cell wall of potato peels. The levels of chlorogenic, caffeic and ferulic acids were also investigated. The following treatments were used: control, silicon ash (~99% Si), slag (30% Si), fly ash (50% Si) and lime (calcium carbonate) as a pH control. Treatments were divided into those inoculated with Fusarium and those without Fusarium. Results showed that for silicon treatments not inoculated with Fusarium, slag had the highest tuber yield, followed by lime, fly ash and silicon ash when compared to the control. Silicon treatments inoculated with Fusarium did not improve the yield as the control had the highest yield and the occurrence Fusarium wilt was not reduced in silicon treatments. In this regard silicon did not have an effect on Fusarium wilt because symptoms were visible in the silicon amended treatments. The results for phenolic acid content showed that ferulic acid levels were too low for analysis; for chlorogenic acid, concentrations were generally lower in the silicon treatments than in the treatments without silicon; and caffeic acid levels were higher in silicon treatments than treatments without silicon, as a result of increased production of as defence mechanism against invading pathogens. However, this is the first study on the effect of silicon on Fusarium wilt of potatoes and its influence on the production of phenolics. Further research is required to understand the role of silicon in potato pathosystems. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

Nanoparticles are microscopic particles in the nanometre range of between 1-100 nm. A wide variety of metal nanoparticles have been found to be produced by prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms including several fungal species, when exposed to solutions containing metal salts. Previous studies have suggested that this bioreduction of metal particles may occur via an active reductase/hydrogenase enzyme process where H2 is the electron donor and positively charged platinum species act as the electron acceptors becoming reduced to a neutral metal nanoparticle. In view of this on going research, the current study investigated the “factors” in the fungus Fusarium oxysporum which were responsible for platinum nanoparticle formation. The fungus F.oxysporum was used in this study as it has been previously shown to produce a variety of nanoparticles including gold and silver. During exposure of the biomass to H2PtCl6 the initial response to the platinum salts was metal internalisation and subsequent reduction of H2PtCI6 to produce platinum nanoparticles. The observed localization and distribution of platinum precipitates provided some evidence for a hydrogenase mediated bioreduction of platinum salts to produce nanoparticles. Factors secreted by the fungus into the extracellular fluids, were shown to be responsible for platinum nanoparticle formation. From the identification, purification and characterisation studies it was concluded that a hydrogenase and other “factors” were responsible for platinum nanoparticle formation in F.oxysporum. Purification of the hydrogenase by freeze-drying and Sephacryl S200 size exclusion- ion exchange chromatography revealed the enzyme to be a dimer with a 29.4 and 44.5 kDa when analysed by a 10 % SDS-PAGE. Characterisation of the enzyme revealed optimal activity at a pH of 7.5 and temperature of 38 °C while it exhibited a poor thermal stability with a half life of 36 minutes. The kinetic parameters Vmax and Km were 3.16 U ml-1 and 3.64 mM respectively. The purified hydrogenase was used in subsequent experiments for the reduction of platinum salts, H2PtCl6 and PtCl2. the results indicated an over 90 % reduction of the platinum salts and TEM micrographs indicated the production of platinum nanoparticles under the various experimental conditions.

In-vitro and greenhouse screening of 78 bacterial isolates from sorghum rhizosphere in Ethiopia and 86 isolates from the rhizosphere of grasses at Nylsvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa was conducted in terms of inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum that causes root rot in sorghum. Among the Ethiopian isolates KBE5-7, KBE5-1, KBE2-5 and NAE5-5 resulted in 100% disease suppression while disease suppressions ranging from 85.6% - 95.8% were rendered by South African isolates KBS9-H, KBS9-B, KFP9-A, NAS6-B and KBS5-F. According to identification by means of API and 16S rDNA sequencing, the majority of the effective isolates belong to members of the genus Bacillus. Other Gram negative isolates effective in this study have been identified as Serratia marcescens, Chryseomonas luteola, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Enterobacter sakazaki. Screening of rhizobacterial isolates was also conducted in terms ofin-vitro and in-vivo antagonistic activity against Pythium ultimum Trow, a common soilborne pathogen causing yield reductions in a wide variety of crops including sorghum. Statistically significant disease suppression was achieved by a number of isolates both from Ethiopia and South Africa. Most of the effective isolates maintained themselves in the rhizosphere at a level of ≥ 105 cfu/g four weeks after inoculation. While Bacillus cereus was the predominant isolates from both sites, Brevilbacterium laterosporus, Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas fluorescens were among the most effective isolates with the potential to suppress Pythium ultimum in-vitro and in-vivo. Modes of action studies assessing production of antibiotics, siderophores, chitinolytic activity and induction of systemic resistance in sorghum were conducted for rhizobacterial isolates effective against F. oxysporum and P. ultimum. The antibiotic substances produced in the culture filtrates of many of these effective bacteria resulted in strong antifungal activity against both pathogens. The antibiotics from Bacillus cereus (KBS5-H) and Bacillus subtilis (KBS6-3) resulted in an efficient antagonistic activity against F. oxysporum and Pythium ultimum respectively. Siderophore production was evident in the Gram-negative strains Serratia marcescens (KBS9-R), C. violaceum (KBE9-1) and E. sakazaki (NAS6-B) with prominent yellow/orange halo development on CAS-agar plates demonstrating the potential by these isolates to produce siderophores under iron stressed conditions. Chitinolytic activity on chitin-agar plates was shown by isolates which mostly (83%) belonged to strains of B. cereus The split root system has also demonstrated that B. cereus (KBS5-H), C. violaceum (KBE9-1) and S. marcescens (KBS9-R) were capable of rendering significant induction of systemic resistance against F. oxysporum in sorghum. The successful in-vitro and in-vivo suppression of F. oxysporum and P. ultimum by the effective rhizobacterial isolates and the presence of various modes of action provide useful information on the potential of these isolates as biocontrol agents against soilborne fungal pathogens. The isolation and screening of rhizobacteria for growth promotion of sorghum has also been conducted under greenhouse condition in pathogen free soils. Three isolates from Ethiopia and 10 isolates from South Africa have been identified as the most effective growth promoting isolates in these studies. The isolates also tested positive for the production of siderophores, production of indoleacetic acid and phosphate solubilization, the direct modes of actions through which bacteria promote plant growth in the rhizosphere of several plants. Of the most effective isolates 44 % were identified as Bacillus cereus, 19 % as Chryseomonas luteola, 13 % as Serratia marcescens, 13 % as Sphingomonas paucimobilis, and 6% each as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Brevibacterium laterosporus respectively. The best biocontrol agents were selected out of a total of 24 isolates both from Ethiopia and South Africa. The selection procedure was conducted by using criteria such as the in-vitro and in-vivo suppression of Fusarium oxysporum and Pythium ultimum, the root colonization ability of the bacterial isolates and selected modes of action including production of antibiotic substances and siderophores, chitinolytic activity and induction of systemic resistance in sorghum. According to this procedure five isolates from Ethiopia (KBE5-7, KBE5-1, KBE9-1, NAE1-7 and NAE5-7) and six isolates from South Africa (KBS5-F, KBS9-R, KBS6-H, KBS5-H, KFP9-K and KBE6-17) have been selected as the most efficient biocontrol isolates. The selection of the best performing growth promoting isolates was conducted out of 12 efficient isolates using the following criteria: root colonization, siderophores and indoleacetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubilization and bacterial growth profiles in liquid cultures. Two isolates from Ethiopia (KBE7-8 and KBE9-1) and five isolates from South Africa (KBS5-H, KBS5-F, KBS6-H, KBS9-B and NAS4-3) have been selected as the best growth promoting isolates. As the screening and selection of this study are based on laboratory and greenhouse studies, further evaluation of the best isolates under field conditions and additional modes of action studies are warranted to ascertain their full potential as biocontrol and growth promoting agents. / Thesis (PhD (Plant Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

Fusarium verticillioides (=Fusarium moniliforme) a common fungal contaminant of maize throughout the world has been associated with diseases in both man and animals. The structure of the fumonisins, a family of structurally related mycotoxins isolated from cultures associated with the high incidence of human oesophageal cancer in the Transkei region in South Africa and with equine leucoencephalomalacia, a neurological disorder in horses and donkeys, has been established. The main mycotoxin, fumonisin B₁ consists of the diester formed by the C(14) and C(15) hydroxy groups of (2S,3S,5R,10R,12S,14S,15R,16R)-2-amino-12,16-dimethyleicosane-3,10,14,15-pentaol with the Si carboxy group of propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid. A comparison of the structures of the 28 known fumonisins isolated since 1988 reveals that they share a common structural motif for the C(11)–C(20) unit, and probably also the same stereochemistry for the 4 stereogenic centres present in this part of the C20 backbone. Disconnection of the C(9)–C(10) bond in a retrosynthetic analysis of the fumonisins identifies (3S,5S,6R,7R)-3,7-dimethylundecane-1,5,6-triol as a common building block for the synthesis of any of the fumonisins. In the dissertation the retrosynhetic analysis of this 3,7-dimethylundecane-1,5,6-triol building block identifies a simple precursor, ethyl 2-heptenoate, as the starting material for the proposed synthetic route toward this target. The Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation reaction plays a pivotal role in this synthetic route as all 4 stereogenic centres present in the 3,7-dimethylundecane-1,5,6-triol target are generated by this methodology at three different stages of the proposed synthesis. The epoxy alcohol formed at each stage was subjected to regioselective ring opening followed by a protective group strategy which allowed for the protection of the secondary hydroxyl group as the benzyl ether and left the primary hydroxyl group, available after oxidation to the aldehyde, for a two-carbon chain extension to an α,β-unsaturated ester. This ester in turn was reduced to an allylic alcohol which formed the starting material for a second cycle of reactions. In this manner a synthetic route towards the target compound was developed and problems associated with the route investigated. The dissertation shows that a viable route was developed with complete stereochemical control in the formation of the stereogenic centres, even though the final product, the protected 3,7-dimethylundecane-1,5,6-triol was not obtained due to time constraints and material shortages. / Dissertation (MSc (Chemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Chemistry / MSc / unrestricted

Submitted by Isaac Francisco de Souza Dias (isaac.souzadias@ufpe.br) on 2016-04-15T18:47:43Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO Ana Carla da Silva Santos.pdf: 1220601 bytes, checksum: c19f2246c1a397087c616725cfdd209c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-15T18:47:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO Ana Carla da Silva Santos.pdf: 1220601 bytes, checksum: c19f2246c1a397087c616725cfdd209c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-26 / CNPQ / No Nordeste Brasileiro, a palma forrageira (Opuntia ficus-indica) é uma das principais espécies destinadas à alimentação de rebanhos animais, desempenhando importante papel econômico e social nas regiões áridas e semiáridas da região. A produtividade da cultura tem sido severamente ameaçada pelo ataque da cochonilha do carmim (Dactylopius opuntiae), sendo necessário investir em métodos que promovam o controle dessa praga. O controle de insetos por meio de fungos entomopatogênicos e extratos vegetais tem se mostrado eficiente e menos prejudicial à saúde das pessoas e dos ecossistemas. Alguns estudos indicam que esses métodos, quando utilizados em conjunto, podem ter sua ação inseticida potencializada. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar a compatibilidade entre extratos de catingueira (Caesalpinia pyramidalis) e mamona (Ricinnus communis) e isolados de Fusarium obtidos da cochonilha do carmim, visando a possibilidade de empregá-los juntos no controle do inseto; avaliar o efeito inseticida desses separadamente e em combinação contra a cochonilha do carmim em palma forrageira e confirmar a identidade dos isolados de Fusarium por meio do sequenciamento das regiões β-tubulina e TEF-1α do DNA. A identificação molecular revelou que os isolados de Fusarium utilizados pertencem ao Complexo de Espécies F. incarnatum-equiseti. De acordo com os resultados obtidos nos testes de compatibilidade, os isolados URM6776 e URM6778 associados aos extratos aquoso e hidroetanólico de R. communis nas concentrações de 5% e 10%, respectivamente, foram os mais indicados para estudo contra D. opuntiae. Para o extrato aquoso de C. pyramidalis, selecionou-se a concentração de 10% e os isolados URM6776 e URM6777, e para o extrato hidroetanólico, a concentração de 10% e os isolados URM6777 e URM6782. Quanto aos testes contra a cochonilha, bons valores de mortalidade corrigida foram observados para todos os tratamentos, variando de 61.23% (extrato de mamona aquoso a 5%) a 100% (Isolado URM6778 + extrato de mamona aquoso a 5%), tratamento que se revelou, em laboratório, o mais eficiente para o controle de D. opuntiae. Estudos com o intuito de testar a eficiência desses tratamentos em condições de campo, e de fornecer respostas quanto à segurança do uso dos mesmos devem ser conduzidos, visando disponibilizar alternativa eficiente para o controle da praga e não prejudicial ao ambiente e à saúde do produtor familiar e de sua criação. / In the Brazilian Northeast, the cactus Opuntia ficus-indica is a key species for feeding livestock, playing an important economic and social role in the arid and semi-arid areas of the region. The crop productivity has been severely threatened by the attack of cochineal Dactylopius opuntiae, being necessary to invest in methods to promote the control of the pest. The insect control using entomopathogenic fungi and plant extracts has been showing efficient and less harmful to human health and ecosystems. Some studies indicate that these methods, when used together, can have their insecticidal action strengthened. This study aimed to evaluate the compatibility among extracts of Caesalpinia pyramidalis e Ricinnus communis and isolates of Fusarium obtained from D. opuntiae, aiming to the possibility of use them together in insect control; to evaluate the insecticidal effect of these separately and in combination on D. opuntiae in O. ficus-indica and to confirm the identity of isolates of Fusarium by means of the sequencing of â-tubulin and TEF-1á regions of DNA. The molecular identification showed that the Fusarium isolates used belong to the species-complex F. incarnatum-equiseti. According the results obtained in compatibility testing, the URM6776 and URM6778 isolates combinated with aqueous and hydroethanol extracts of R. communis in concentrations of 5% and 10%, respectively, were the most suitable for study against D. opuntiae. To the aqueous extract of C. pyramidalis was selected concentration of 10% and URM6776 and URM6777 isolates, and to the hydroethanolic extract the concentration of 10% and URM6777 and URM6782 isolados. Regarding tests against cochineal, good corrected mortality values were obtained in all treatments, ranging from 61.23% (extracts aqueous of R. communis 5%) to 100% (isolated URM6778 + extracts aqueous of R. communis 5%) treatment that was revealed, under laboratory conditions, the most efficient in the control of D. opuntiae. Studies with the aim of test the effectiveness of these treatments under field conditions, and provide answers about the safety of their use should be conducted, with the purpose of provide efficient alternative to pest control and not harmful to the environment and to the health of family farmer and his breeding.

<p>A-to-I mRNA editing is an important co- or post-transcriptional event that can recode the heredity information through adenosine deaminase. It is mediated by <u>a</u>denosine <u>d</u>e<u>a</u>minases <u>a</u>cting on <u>R</u>NA (ADAR) in animals. Due to the lack of ADAR orthologs, yeast and filamentous fungi are assumed to have no A-to-I mRNA editing. However, genome-wide A-to-I mRNA editing was discovered in the plant pathogenic fungus <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> that occurs specifically during sexual reproduction in 2016. In a previous study all the predicted adenosine/cytosine deaminase genes except <i>FgTAD2 </i>and <i>FgTAD3</i>, the orthologs of yeast <i>TAD2 </i>and <i>TAD3</i>, were found to be dispensable for A-to-I mRNA editing in <i>F. graminearum</i>. <i>TAD2</i> and <i>TAD3</i> encode ADATs (<u>a</u>denosine <u>d</u>e<u>a</u>minase acting on <u>t</u>RNA) that mediate A-to-I editing at A34 of tRNA. In this study, <i>FgTAD2</i> was found to have two isoforms based on RNA-seq analysis. Whereas the longer isoform was predominant during vegetative growth, the expression of the short one was significantly increase and likely acts as the major isoform during sexual stage. Because deletion of <i>FgTAD2</i> appeared to be lethal, the RIP (<u>r</u>epeat-<u>i</u>nduced <u>p</u>oint mutation) approach was used to generate point mutations. A total of 16 RIP mutations were identified in <i>FgTAD2</i>after sequencing analysis with 8 ascospore progeny that were normal in vegetative growth but defective in sexual reproduction. Two of them were verified by introducing specific point mutations into the endogenous <i>FgTAD2</i> allele in the wild-type strain. In addition to genetic approaches, we developed an <i>in vitro</i> assay to detect the deaminase activity of FgTad2. The FgTad2 protein complex purified from perithecia formed by transformants of <i>F. graminearum</i> expressing FgTad2-6xHis by immunoprecipitation was found to catalyze A-to-I editing in a mRNA substrate. Like yeast Tad3, FgTad3 has the E to V mutation in its catalytic core that likely abolishes its ADAT activity but it forms heterodimers with FgTad2 based on co-immunoprecipitation assays. Because <i>FgTAD2</i> and <i>FgTAD3</i> were constitutively expressed and the FgTad2/FgTad3 protein complex purified from vegetative hyphae had no A-to-I RNA editing activity in <i>in vitro</i> assays, it is likely that stage-specific co-factors present in perithecia interact with FgTad2/FgTad3 ADATs (lack of RNA binding domains) and enable the editing of mRNA. Affinity purification and mass spectrometry were conducted with the FgTad2-S-tag and FgTad3-S-tag transformants. Among the putative FgTad2- and FgTad3-interacting proteins, Gad1 was confirmed to interact with FgTad2 specifically during sexual reproduction. Surprisingly, both the number of editing sites and editing levels were increased in the <i>gad1</i> mutant, indicating that Gad1 affects A-to-I mRNA editing in a negative way. Overall, genetic studies and <i>in vitro</i> assays showed that FgTad2, possibly together with FgTad3, is responsible for A-to-I mRNA editing. Proteins co-immunoprecipitated with FgTad2 likely contains co-factors interacting with FgTad2/FgTad3 for stage-specific A-to-I mRNA by these two ADATs in <i>F. graminearum</i>. </p>

There is growing interest in malting and brewing with rye. However, previous research has shown a propensity for the development of deoxynivalenol (DON) in rye malts, even when levels on the grain is low. The main objective of this study was to assess the growth of F. graminearum and development of trichothecenes during malting of rye. Infected samples were obtained from 2016 variety trails in Minnesota. While DON levels were generally below 0.2 mg/kg, an average increase of 41 % was seen after malting. The most significant increases in DON were at three days of germination. Fusarium Tri5 DNA levels were observed to increase at two days. When single kernels were tested, most were free from DON. Levels in the bulk grain sample were due to a small number of highly contaminated kernels. In the malted samples, a greater portion of kernels contained DON, and overall levels were much higher.

There are many examples of associations between insects and fungi. Where the fungi involved are pathogens, such associations may be of economic importance. Insects of no economic concern alone can also become important pests because of their association with fungal pathogens. Insects may assist in the spread of pathogens by carrying them on or in their bodies. Insects may also predispose plants to infection by creating wounds during feeding, oviposition or other behavioural activities. Knowledge of associations between insects and fungal pathogens often form a crucial component in the management strategy of these pathogens. The pitch canker fungus, Fusarium circinatum, causes severe disease symptoms on mature pines in the USA. Various insects have been implicated as vectors of this disease. In South Africa, F. circinatum is reported only to cause disease on pine seedlings, where it results in severe losses in nurseries. Various insects are present in the nursery that could possibly be associated with the spread of the fungus or the infection of its hosts. Amongst these insects, fungus gnats are the prime suspects due to their history of association with fungal pathogens in other nurseries. The presence of fungus gnats in South African pine nurseries and their possible association with F. circinatum and other pathogens has never been investigated critically. The objective of this study was to expand the base of knowledge of fungus gnats in South African pine nurseries, and to consider their possible association with F. circinatum and their population structure within and between nurseries. The literature review provides a summary of fungus gnats in the nursery environment. This includes their description, biology and association with fungal pathogens. Information from these studies is used to evaluate the possible association between fungus gnats and F. circinatum in South African pine nurseries. In nurseries around the world where fungus gnats are considered pests, various control options have been used, and these are further discussed. The first research aim of this study was to determine whether fungus gnats are present in the major pine nurseries of South Africa. Thus, in Chapter 2, surveys were undertaken in four of the major pine nurseries. All fungus gnats collected were identified to species level. Other diptera collected were identified to family level. Furthermore, all diptera collected were isolated on general and selective growing medium to examine for the presence of F. circinatum. Results from Chapter 2 showed that only one species of fungus gnats was present in the nurseries and it was present in all four of the nurseries surveyed. This raised interesting questions regarding the phylogeographic structure of these populations and the diversity within and between populations. These questions are addressed in Chapter 3 using analysis of mitochondrial COI sequence data from fungus gnats collected in the four nurseries. Of particular importance was the interpretation of these results as it pertains to the movement of fungus gnats between populations, together with their associated fungi. Using general and specific growing medium to isolate fungal pathogens from insects is not necessarily an accurate method. Pathogens may be overgrown by faster growing fungi before they are noticed, especially if they are present only in small amounts. Chapter 4 examined the use of DNA-based methods as a tool to detect fungal pathogens on fungus gnats. Fungus gnats were collected from the same four nurseries as in Chapter 2. Species-specific primers for F. circinatum and Botrytis cinerea were used to detect these fungi. Dilution series were done to examine the sensitivity of the primers. General primers were used to detect other fungi. This dissertation includes some of the first studies ever undertaken on fungus gnats in South African pine nurseries. Their association with the very virulent pitch canker fungus is also considered in some detail. It is my hope that these studies will form a foundation for future research on fungus gnats in South Africa. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

Mycotoxins which are associated with Fusarium spp. and disease caused by this genus, Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), on grains represents a global issue for food and feed security. In order to determinate if the BoMill IQ is capable to recognize the content of mycotoxin in grains of barley, we were testing three different varieties fromm five firms, in two repetitions. This technology uses Near Infrared Transmittance (NIT) to distinguish kernels containing mycotoxins form healthy based on individual kernel protein content. Correlations between content of proteins and tested mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol and nivalenol) were observed. We have found strong negative correlations between both mycotoxins and content of proteins, but there was a strong positive correlation between deoxynivalenol and nivalenol. Results showed that this technology can be used to determinate content of mycotoxins in individual kernels and to sort the grains in different fractions which differ in content of mycotoxins.

No description available.