Alternaria species and mycotoxins associated to black point of cereals

Abstract

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by several fungal species and represent a great concern for the economical and healthy implications on food and feed chain. Cereals are the primary source of human diet, wheat being the third most produced grain worldwide. Although Fusarium still represents the main source of mycotoxin contamination of wheat, in recent years, due also to evident climate changes that influence agricultural environment, other mycotoxingenic fungi have been pointed out as important wheat contaminants. Among these a disease called "Black Point", caused by Alternaria spp., is increasing it importance as re-emerging risk. Diseases and mycotoxins (alternariol, altenuene, alternariol methyl-ether and tenuazolic acid) associated with Alternaria infection have been reported in several countries suggesting to deepen the knowledge about this genus. This paper summarizes the recent findings on wheat contamination by Alternaria spp and their related toxins.