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SESSION 6: FUTURE CHALLENGE FOR EUROPE AND WORLWIDE
Future challenges of Fusarium and mycotoxins on
cereals in Northern Europe
P. Parikka, K. Hakala, K. Tiilikkala
MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production Research, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
E-mail: paivi.parikka@mtt.fi
Expected changes in climatic conditions in the North are generally beneficial to
field crop production and allow growing of more species and cultivars. Longer
growing seasons enhance productivity but predicted increase in rainfall can cause
risks for crop quality. The Fusarium species causing head blight on cereals are
common all over Europe but their importance is different depending on the
climatic conditions. The increase in importance of F. graminearum reported earlier
in Central Europe has been observed during the past ten years, especially in
Norway where high deoxynivalenol contents have been frequently analysed in
oats in some areas. Signs of the same development have also been observed in
Sweden and Finland, where DON contaminations have previously been lower.
Due to environmental and economical reasons, reduced tillage and no-till
practices have become more common in cereal production. In Finland, increase
of F. langsethiae, the most important producer of T-2 and HT-2- toxins has
already been observed on oats and barley under reduced tillage. While DON
production is enhanced by high humidity, F. langsethiae can infect and produce
toxins in dry conditions. F. poae also benefits of warm and dry conditions and
increase risk of nivalenol contamination in grain. Interest to grow maize for silage
increases with warmer growing seasons also in the North and can result in higher
DON contaminations when tillage is reduced. Crop rotation is recommended to
control Fusarium head blight but short rotations may not be effective enough.
Insect damages on cereal heads can increase in warming conditions and lead to
heavier Fusarium infections and risk of mycotoxins in grain. Chemical control of
Fusarium head blight has not necessarily decreased mycotoxin contents in grain.
Cultivar resistance to Fusarium infections would be the best and the most
sustainable method to control mycotoxin contaminations, especially in oats.
Keywords: cereals, climate, tillage, mycotoxins
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