Ecological Roles and Regulation of Mycotoxin Production in Fungi

Dear Colleagues,

Mycotoxins are critical food safety concerns globally resulting in human and animal diseases and significant economic losses. While extensive research has been performed in elucidating the biochemical and genetic bases of the biosynthetic pathways for many of the major mycotoxins contaminating crops, less is known about their upstream regulation or the ecological reasons that these mycotoxins are produced by fungi in the first place. Recent studies have pointed to ecological roles of mycotoxins including fungivory prevention, stress remediation, and antimicrobial activities to provide competitive advantages to mycotoxigenic fungi in the environment against other microbes. Some mycotoxins have even been shown to function as virulence factors in plant–fungal interactions.

This Special Issue is focused on highlighting research into the putative ecological functions and functional regulation of mycotoxins in agricultural systems. Articles exploring these aspects of the production of major mycotoxins of food safety importance such as aflatoxins, deoxynivalenols, fumonisins, ochratoxins, and zearalenone are of particular interest. Research exploring host–pathogen interactions, fungal genetics, genomics, “omics” studies, environmental interactions, microbiomes, biotechnology, and novel control measures (novel fungicides, biological controls, cultural practices) are also encouraged. Original research, short communications, and review articles are welcome.

Dr. Jake C. Fountain
Dr. Sunil Gangurde
Guest Editors

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