Survey of Fusarium moniliforme (F. verticillioides) and production of fumonisin B1 in cereal grains and oilseeds in Zimbabwe

In a national survey carried out in 1995 and 1996, the distribution of Fusarium moniliforme (=F. verticillioides) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) levels in cereals and oilseeds from Zimbabwe were analyzed. The results of this study showed that the incidence of F. moniliforme and other Fusarium species and levels of FB1 generally decreased from regions with high rainfall and annual moderate temperatures to low rainfall regions. There was no Fusarium contamination and FB1 was not detected in sunflowers and soybeans. The incidence of F. moniliforme and its metabolite exhibited a substrate preference with high incidences of Fusarium species and high FB1 levels being recorded for maize followed by wheat, rapoko and sorghum.