Search

This paper describes the mycotoxins produced by fungi from the genera Fusarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Claviceps and other types of molds, their characteristics and importance. Mycotoxins are secondary fungi metabolites that serve as a defense mechanism in stressful conditions. Several hundred mycotoxins have been identified so far, and the most significant in terms of danger to human health and animals are aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, patulin, fumonisin, zearalenone and nivalenol/deoxynivalenol produced by toxigenic fungi from the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, Claviceps, Stachybotris and Fusarium. Moisture and temperature are two factors that have a crucial influence on the development of the fungus and the synthesis of toxins. It is estimated that approximately 25% of agricultural crops are infected with fungi. Consequently, foods can also be contaminated with mycotoxins. By treating the stored grain with various chemicals, and in recent years, using environmentally friendly fungicides, the synthesis of mycotoxins is being prevented and the development of mycotoxicogenic fungi is being controlled. The mycotoxicosis can occur directly through the consumption of infected food, inhalation and skin contact, or indirectly through animals that eat contaminated feed. Mycotoxins have a pathological effect primarily on liver. Some mycotoxins also interfere with cellular protein synthesis, causing hypersensitivity and extreme immunodeficiency. Despite mycotoxins being resilient and remaining stable while undergoing chemical and thermal food processing, methods such as applying good hygiene and production practices from field to table can reduce their occurence.

The effect of different conservation soil tillage (CST) treatments and different level of nitrogen fertilization on Fusarium wheat grain infection on two locations are presented in this paper. The research was conducted on winter wheat with different soil tillage treatments: conventional tillage to 30 cm depth, subsoiling to 35-40 cm depth, chiselling up to 25 cm, disk-harrowing to 10-15 cm and no-tillage, without any tillage treatments and three different nitrogen rates (N1 - amount reduced by 30% of recommended; N2 - according to standard recommendation and N3 - amount increased by 30% of recommended). The occurrence of Fusarium species was determined in all the tested variants of tillage and fertilization treatments. The effect of reduced fertilization (N1) on Fusarium sp. grain infection in all tillage treatments was statistically lower in comparison with other (N2 and N3) nitrogen treatments. The lowest percentage of wheat grains infected with Fusarium sp. was recorded in conventional tillage on location Magadenovac and no tillage treatments on location Cacinci.