Effect of Mycotoxins on Crops and Their Prevention

Dear Colleagues,

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi of different species that can contaminate food and feed with possible toxic effects for humans and animals. They represent the most important class of chemical hazards in the European Rapid Alert System on Feed and Food (RASFF). In 2017, more than 40% of the alerts concerning a potential threat to human health from chemical contaminants in food products, in particular for cereals and nuts, were due to mycotoxins.

Mycotoxin contamination is the most insidious and subtle crop quality problem. The origin of contamination by fungi naturally present in fields and agricultural environments and the strict connection with seasonal meteorological trends cannot be controlled or mitigated in open-field conditions, making these contaminants particularly difficult to limit and to manage. For all these reasons, agrotechnical solutions, genetics studies and post-harvest practices are of paramount importance to reduce the spoilage of toxigenic fungi and to limit the frequency of contamination that may cause restrictions on the use and marketing of commodities.

Mycotoxins are ubiquitous. They can occur in cereals, cereal products and foods, feeds, animal products and soil all over the world. Moreover, animal feeds contaminated by mycotoxigenic fungi, such as wheat bran and maize grain, can be affected by a continuous production of mycotoxins post harvest in case of unsuitable storage conditions. This can even lead to a significant exposure to mycotoxins for humans, since they can also be transferred from feed to food of animal origin.

Globally, it has been estimated that mycotoxins affect up to 25% of the world’s crop production, causing important economic losses with possible long-term issues for human and animal health. Control of mycotoxigenic fungal species development and guaranteeing safe and plentiful crops represent a strong challenge for the world’s future, also taking into consideration the necessity to reduce the environmental impact of chemical products like fungicides or fertilizers. This Special Issue “Effect of Mycotoxins on Crops and Their Prevention” aims to examine the occurrence of mycotoxins in crops, food and feed and the possibility of prevention and control strategies against mycotoxigenic fungi, also considering new possible and effective environmentally friendly approaches.

Dr. Sabrina Locatelli
Dr. Chiara Lanzanova
Dr. Paola Giorni
Guest Editors

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• mycotoxigenic fungi
• mycotoxin occurrence
• mycotoxin prevention
• crop safety management
• sustainable tools against mycotoxins