Mycotoxin productivity and virulence of Fusarium graminearum species complex causing Fusarium head blight on wheat and barley in the western part of Japan.

Isolates of a Fusarium graminearum species complex causing Fusarium head blight on wheat and barley were collected from the western part of Japan in 2002, and their mycotoxin productivity on a rice medium for deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2 toxin and zearalenone (ZEA) was examined using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.Fifty-eight percent of the isolates produced more NIV than DON; none of the isolates produced T-2 toxin and 96% produced ZEA.Among nine selected NIV-producing isolates, eight were significantly more virulent than isolate H-3 of a highly virulent DON chemotype, and all the NIV-producing isolates produced NIV in wheat grains obtained from a field inoculation test.