Post-harvest diseases and mycotoxins created by Fusarium species

The importance of Fusarium fungi as causal agents of storage diseases of carrot is increasing both worldwide and in Finland. Based on our previous studies, Fusarium avenaceum and F. torulosum are the most common Fusarium fungi that spoil carrots in storage. F. torulosum is a new Fusarium species in Finland, which we have identified by sequencing. The discovery is significant for food safety, as F. torulosum produces a harmful wortmannin mycotoxin. F. torulosum and the wortmannin it produces have not been previously studied in carrots in Finland. The aim of the project is to study the pathogenicity of Fusarium torulosum and F. avenaceum, on carrots and to determine whether these fungi produce mycotoxins in carrots that are harmful to humans.