Evaluation du risque de contamination des cultures céréalières par des mycotoxines

Context

Head Blight in wheat is a disease caused by a complex of fungal species. Some of these, the Fusarium, can produce different mycotoxins. Theses substances are toxic for human and animal if they are ingested. Among mycotoxins found in wheat crops, one of the most frequent is the deoxiynivalenol (DON, also called vomitoxin).

Cereal harvests in Belgium are not safe from contaminations with these mycotoxins. Measures must be taken to guarantee the sanitary quality of cereal productions.

Objectives

The main purpose of this project is thus to study the winter wheat crops contamination by the deoxynivalenol (DON) and more precisely, to determine the impact of meteorological conditions and agricultural practices on disease development.

Expected results

Monitoring of the mycotoxins contamination level in winter wheats during several years

Determination of risk factors (meteorology and agricultural practices) influencing the development of Head Blight in fields

Validation of a serological test aiming to quantify DON in flours

Development of a multi-mycotoxins chromatography technique

Development of an agro-meteorological forecasting model aiming to localize the risk of Head blight development in belgian winter wheats

Contribution

Analyze of DON contamination in winter wheats

Definition of risk factors affecting Head Blight development in winter wheat fields (for example: no ploughed maize as preceding crop, …)

Identification of the different fungi responsible for the disease by microbiological analyses and genetic amplifications (PCR)

Analyze of the DON level in flours by serological test (ELISA) and by chromatography

Development of a forecasting model using meteorological and agricultural data

Popularization of the results near the associations of farmers