, , and are emerging preharvest maize ear rot pathogens in Ethiopia.

Fusarium ear rot (FER) and Gibberella ear rot (GER) caused by Fusarium species are major diseases affecting maize production in Ethiopia. In addition to reducing quality and yield, these fungi can produce mycotoxins that contaminate maize kernels and, thereby, pose health hazards to humans and livestock. A survey was conducted in 10 administrative zones of Ethiopia within the major maize-growing regions of the country to identify the species of Fusarium associated with ear rot.

Structure of Aspergillus flavus populations associated with maize in Greece, Spain, and Serbia: Implications for aflatoxin biocontrol on a regional scale.

Aspergillus flavus is the most frequently identified producer of aflatoxins. Non-aflatoxigenic members of the A. flavus L strains are used in various continents as active ingredients of bioprotectants directed at preventing aflatoxin contamination by competitive displacement of aflatoxin producers.

Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of the aflatoxin biocontrol agent isolate La3279 isolated from maize in Nigeria.

Here, we report the complete genome of the non-aflatoxigenic isolate La3279, which is an active ingredient of the aflatoxin biocontrol product Aflasafe. The chromosome-scale assembly clarifies the deletion pattern in the aflatoxin biosynthesis gene cluster and corrects a misidentified assembly previously published for this isolate.

Nanopore PCR-cDNA sequencing of the biocontrol isolate AF36 (NRRL 18543) informs gene annotation.

Toxic molds in the genus synthesize carcinogenic aflatoxins which contaminate crops. The widely applied biocontrol isolate AF36 (NRRL 18543) has a high-quality public genome but lacks corresponding gene annotations. We generated high-quality gene predictions for this isolate by using long-read Nanopore PCR-cDNA sequencing.

Complete genome of the toxic mold Aspergillus pseudotamarii isolate NRRL 25517 reveals genomic instability of the aflatoxin biosynthesis cluster.

Fungi can synthesize a broad array of secondary metabolite chemicals. The genes underpinning their biosynthesis are typically arranged in tightly linked clusters in the genome. For example, ∼25 genes responsible for the biosynthesis of carcinogenic aflatoxins by Aspergillus section Flavi species are grouped in a ∼70 Kb cluster.