Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium spp., is a destructive disease of small grain cereals, such as wheat, barley, oat and canaryseed. Apart from grain yield losses and reduced baking and seed quality, a major concern with FHB is crop contamination with Fusarium-produced trichothecene mycotoxins, specifically deoxynivalenol (DON), also known as vomitoxin. These mycotoxins accumulate in the grain making it unfit for consumption by humans and animals. Significant DON contamination may render a crop unmarketable, or reduce the market value by 40-65%.
Read MoreMycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by mold that can sometimes be found in crops or food. Mycotoxins can develop pre-harvest, during harvest, or while in storage, and can be difficult and expensive to detect. Maria DeRosa, a professor at Carleton University, led a research project to develop a rapid, low-cost test for mycotoxins that could be used at the farm or grain elevator with minimal training or resources.
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