1) The document summarizes research on reducing the risk of mycotoxins in cereals through cropping factors. Surveys of wheat, barley, and oat samples from Swiss farms found Fusarium graminearum and F. poae were dominant species producing DON and NIV respectively. 2) Further research tested the effect of previous crops, tillage practices, and fungicide use on mycotoxin levels. Variety trials found some barley varieties with higher beta-glucan contents had lower DON levels after artificial inoculation. 3) The researchers are developing "Healthy & Safe" cereal varieties with high levels of healthy compounds that may inhibit toxigenic fungi. If

1. 1
Federal Department of Economic Affairs,
Education and Research EAER
Agroscope
Cropping factors: the key to reduce
the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
S. Vogelgsang, M. Beyer, T. Musa, E. Jenny,
T. Bucheli, F. Wettstein, M. Pasquali, H.R. Forrer
Agroscope (CH), LIST (LU), University of Milano (IT)
18.06.2019
3rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
© Agroscope, Susanne Vogelgsang et al.
Outline
• Surveys on Fusarium species and
mycotoxins in wheat, barley and oats
• Our resulting research to reduce the
risk in cereals:
- “Healthy & Safe” cereal varieties
- Outlook on MycoKey research:
talks from A. Gimeno & D. Drakopoulos
• Conclusions

2. 2
3rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
© Agroscope, Susanne Vogelgsang et al.
Swiss Fusarium surveys
Objectives
•Abundance & distribution of species
•Correlation between species
abundance & toxin content
• Effect of cropping factors for
the most prevalent species
FG
FP
3rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
© Agroscope, Susanne Vogelgsang et al.
Wheat samples from growers
GE
FR
ZH
TI
GR
BE
ZG
AG
JU
SH
TG
SG
NE
SO
LU
VD
© BFS / swisstopo
• 527 grain samples from 17 cantons (2007-10)
• 159 grain samples from Berne (2011-14)

3. 3
3rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
© Agroscope, Susanne Vogelgsang et al.
Questionnaire on cropping factors
Variety
Previous crop
Production
system
Tillage & residue
management
Fungicides
3rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
© Agroscope, Susanne Vogelgsang et al.
Wheat survey 2007-2014
• Harvest samples from growers
686 wheat samples from 17 cantons
• Questionnaire on production
factors
• Seed health test
Incidence of Fusarium species
• Toxin content
LC-MS/MS: DON, other
trichothecenes & ZEA
• qPCR for top-two dominant species
• Genetic chemotypes
15-ADON, 3-ADON, NIV

4. 4
73rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
F. graminearum
F. poae
F. avenaceum
F. cerealis
F. culmorum
F. spp
Ratio of isolated Fusarium species
n=686
62%
20%
11%
1% 1%
4%
Vogelgsang et al. (2019) Eur J Agronomy
FG FP
83rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Ratio of isolated Fusarium species
n=686
F. graminearum
F. poae
F. avenaceum
F. cerealis
F. culmorum
F. spp
DON,
ac-DON,
ZEA,
(NIV)
NIV,
(T-2, HT-2)
Vogelgsang et al. (2019) Eur J Agronomy
NIV, DON
FG FP

5. 5
93rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
NIV,
(T-2, HT-2)
Correlations fungal abundance and
mycotoxin contents - PCA*
Vogelgsang et al. (2019) Eur J Agronomy
*Principal Component Analysis
103rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Dimension 1 (29.7%)
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5
Dimension2(21.4%)
-1
0
1
2
Multiple correspondence analysis FG/DON
Vogelgsang et al. (2019) Eur J Agronomy
toxin
DNA
incidence

6. 6
113rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Dimension 1 (29.7%)
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5
Dimension2(21.4%)
-1
0
1
2
good
poor
very poor
cereals
potato
maize
sunflower
pasture
other PPC
peas
cereals
maize
canola
pasture
sugar beet
organic
extenso
integrated
conventional
plough
reduced tillage
no fungicide
strobilurins+triazoles
triazoles
Multiple correspondence analysis FG/DON
canola
other PC
very good
*
* *
strobilurins
moderatesugar beet
peas
*
**
*
Vogelgsang et al. (2019) Eur J Agronomy
toxin
DNA
incidence
123rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
maize (108/213)
sugar beet (81/30)
canola (42/32)
pasture (18/23)
peas (30/11)
potato (22/16)
sunflower (9/14)
cereals (7/10)
"others" (8/12)
Deoxynivalenol(gkg
-1
)
0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
reduced tillage
plougha
bc
b
bcd
bcd
bcd
bcd
bcd
bcd
bcd
bcdbcd
d d d
bc
d c
Exceeded maximum limits - DON
p < 0.001
DON: 11% > 1’250 µg kg-1
ZEA: 7% > 100 µg kg-1
Vogelgsang et al. (2019) Eur J Agronomy

7. 7
133rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Life cycle F. graminearum
143rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Life cycle F. graminearum
© J. Lehner, Agroscope

8. 8
153rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Determining ascospore deposition using
„self-made“ and commercial spore traps
© H.R. Forrer,
model L
# colonies in Petri plates = parameter of spore deposition
With
precrop
maize
Burkard Jet
Spore
samplerModel „T“
Spore trap
© H.R. Forrer
Model „L“
No precrop
maize
(plot 109)
Trapped
spores in
wheat plot
(RZ 30.05.07)
Burkard Jet
163rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Multiple correspondence analysis FP/NIV
Dimension 1 (25.6%)
-1 0 1
Dimension2(21.4%)
-2
-1
0
1
Vogelgsang et al. (2019) Eur J Agronomy
toxin
DNA
incidence

9. 9
173rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Dimension 1 (25.6%)
-1 0 1
Dimension2(21.4%)
-2
-1
0
1
good
moderate
poor
very good
very poor
other PC
cereals
potato
canola
sunflower
pasture
sugar beet
other PPC
peas
cereals
maize
canola
pasture
sugar beet
organic
extenso
conventional
plough
reduced tillage
no fungicide
strobilurins+triazoles
triazoles
integrated
*
peas*
maize
*
Multiple correspondence analysis FP/NIV
Vogelgsang et al. (2019) Eur J Agronomy
toxin
DNA
incidence
183rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Outline
• Surveys on Fusarium species and
mycotoxins in wheat, (barley) and oats
• Our resulting research to reduce the
risk in cereals:
- “Healthy & Safe” cereal varieties
- MycoKey:
talks from A. Gimeno & D. Drakopoulos
• Conclusions

10. 10
193rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
58%
30%
7%
1%
1%
3%
F. graminearum
F. avenaceum
F. poae
F. culmorum
F. crookwellense
F. spp
F. graminearum
Fusarium occurrence in barley and oats&
oats &
2013-2014: n=440
Schöneberg et al. (2016)
Food Add Cont 33: 1608-6019
74%
6%
8%
10%
2%
F. poae
F. graminearum
F. avenaceum
F. langsethiae
F. spp
2013-2015: n=325
F. poae
Schöneberg et al. (2018)
Eur J Agron 92: 123-132
203rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
NIV DON T-2/HT-2
Toxin(gkg-1
)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Toxins in (hulled) oats from growers
2013-2015
n=325
F. poae
F. graminearum
74%
6%
8%
10%
2%
F. langsethiae
 304 µg kg -1
From a ratio of only 10%
 qPCR: 33%

11. 11
213rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
MCA for oats: F. langsethiae & T-2/HT-2
Dimension 1 (32.3%)
-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0
Dimension2(18.0%)
-2
-1
0
1
Canyon
Gaillette
Husky
President
Triton
Wiland
other cultivar
cereals
maize
pasture
other PCcereals
maize
canola
pasture
other PPC
integrated
conventional
organic
plough
reduced tillage
toxin
DNA
incidence
223rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Outline
• Surveys on Fusarium species and
mycotoxins in wheat, barley and oats
• Our resulting research to reduce the
risk in cereals:
- “Healthy & Safe” cereal varieties
- MycoKey:
talks from A. Gimeno& D. Drakopoulos
• Conclusions

12. 12
233rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
«Healthy & Safe» cereals
Romina Morisoli, Charlotte Martin,
Mario Bertossa, Torsten Schöneberg,
Susanne Vogelgsang, Fabio Mascher
243rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
«Healthy & Safe» cereals
Romina Morisoli, Charlotte Martin,
Mario Bertossa, Torsten Schöneberg,
Susanne Vogelgsang, Fabio Mascher
• Wheat, barley and oat cultivars
Health promoting compounds (HPCs):
anthocyanins, phenolic acids, β-glucans
• Healthy and safe food
HPCs might inhibit infection through
toxigenic Fusarium species
Research questions
 Dominant species and toxins, impact of cropping factors?
 Epidemiology of the dominant species?
 Differences in susceptibility of cultivars?

13. 13
253rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Resistance experiments
•3 sites across Switzerland
•Wheat, oat, barley varieties with
different contents of HPCs
Picture: M. Bertossa
Charlotte Martin Torsten
Schöneberg
263rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Resistance experiments
•3 sites across Switzerland
•Wheat, oat, barley varieties with
different contents of HPCs
•Artificial infections with selected
Fusarium species
Picture: M. Bertossa
Charlotte Martin
F. poae F. langsethiaeF. graminearum
Torsten
Schöneberg

14. 14
273rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Resistance experiments
Picture: M. Bertossa
Cassia Fridericus Hobbit Landi Semper Waxyma
Deoxynivalenol(mgkg
-1
)
0
10
20
30
40
50
Nyon
Vouvry
Zurich
P < 0.001
DON in barley varieties - 2014
Highest -
glucan
content
Pearson correlation coefficient: β-glucan-DON content:
-0.39 *, p<0.05; Tukey-Kramer
Martin et al. (2018)
Eur J Plant Pathol
283rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Outline
•Surveys on Fusarium species and
mycotoxins in wheat, barley and oats
•Our resulting research to reduce the
risk in cereals:
- “Healthy & Safe” cereal varieties
- …if prevention with cropping
factors is not enough:
comes in

15. 15
293rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
MycoKey PhD students
Alejandro
Gimeno
Dimitrios
Drakopoulos
• Biological control with Clonostachys rosea
• Intercrops, biofumgation, botanicals
303rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
• Significance of mycotoxin surveys?
 Crucial to identify dominant Fusarium species
and influencing cropping factors
• Wheat = barely = oats?
 Extrapolation not possible due to different
Fusarium species and/or different effects of
cropping factors
• Which measure to choose?
 One single measure not sufficient
 Meaningful combination of puzzle pieces needed
Conclusions

16. 16
313rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
• Research group “Ecological Plant
Protection in Arable Crops”, in particular:
Irene Bänziger, Andreas Kägi, various interns,
PhD students Charlotte Martin,
Torsten Schöneberg, Alejandro Gimeno,
Dimitrios Drakopoulos
Acknowledgements
323rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Acknowledgements
• Research group “Ecological Plant
Protection in Arable Crops”, in particular:
Irene Bänziger, Andreas Kägi, various interns,
PhD students Charlotte Martin,
Torsten Schöneberg, Alejandro Gimeno,
Dimitrios Drakopoulos
• Michel Gygax, Sandra Ott, Florian Burkhalter
«Soil preservation programme», canton Berne
• Members CPPOs, growers

17. 17
333rd MycoKey technological workshop: Cropping factors to reduce the risk of mycotoxins in cereals
@ Agroscope, S. Vogelgsang et al.
Questions?