Detoxification and Control of Mycotoxins in Plants

Dear Colleagues,

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by molds that are toxic to vertebrates in low concentrations. The diseases caused by these fungal poisons are collectively known as mycotoxicosis. The most common route of exposure to mycotoxins is through the diet, from the consumption of contaminated plant-based foods or the consumption of animals that have eaten contaminated plant material. When mycotoxin-producing fungi contaminate food crops and are ingested by animals or humans they can cause a gamut of toxic responses that vary with the specific toxin. Nephropathy, various types of cancer, alimentary toxic aleukia, hepatic diseases, various hemorrhagic syndromes, and immune as well as neurological disorders are the most common diseases that can be related to mycotoxicosis. For the efficient prevention of mycotoxin contamination, we need to control mycotoxigenic fungi at their origin, on crop plants. To do this, it is essential to understand the interactions of plants and mycotoxigenic fungi. Thus, it is important to investigate the detoxification and control strategies in plants to reduce mycotoxin contamination.

Major mycotoxin-producing fungi include Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium species, and are found all over the world. For this Special Issue we are seeking contributions that expand on the knowledge that mycotoxins are produced before, during, or after harvest, or at any stage during the food chain. We encourage the submission of full or brief research papers and reviews concerning the most recent and exciting achievements in research areas dedicated to the following: 1) phylogenetic, “omics”, and other next-generation omics studies of toxin gene clusters in mycotoxigenic fungi that grow on plants or plant residues; 2) endogenous plant detoxification mechanisms for mycotoxin treatment or the discovery of plant-resistant genes; 3) control approaches of mycotoxins in agriculture; and 4) other relevant research findings concerning the detoxification and control of mycotoxins in plants and the effects of climate and environmental changes on mycotoxin accumulation.

Dr. Guohua Yin
Dr. Carlos Garrido
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• detoxification mechanism
• mycotoxin contamination
• toxin gene cluster
• resistant genes
• phylogentic analysis
• metabolic regulation