Molecular Diversity and PCR-detection of Toxigenic Fusarium Species and Ochratoxigenic Fungi, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2004 Under the aegis of COST Action 835 ‘Agriculturally Important Toxigenic Fungi 1998–2003’, EU project (QLK1-CT-1998-01380) and the ISPP ‘Fusarium Committee’

Toxigenic Fusarium species and ochratoxigenic fungi are responsible for various plant diseases which have important consequential effects on both human and animal health worldwide. The development of rapid, robust and sensitive detection methods based on new molecular technologies is urgently needed in order to identify fungal contamination in the field and quantify toxin accumulation in food and animal feed. Most of the contributions in this special issue are from results obtained through the EU 5th Framework project (QLKI-CT-1998-01380) "DETOX-FUNGI: early detection of toxigenic Fusarium species and ochratoxi­ genic fungi in plant products", which has strongly stimulated interaction and co-operation between many European scientists. Valuable contributions from other scientists have guaranteed a complete overview of this stimulating and interesting topic. This is the third special issue published in the European Journal of Plant Pathology concerning my­ cotoxigenic fungi under the aegis of COST Action 835 'Agriculturally Important Toxigenic Fungi'. The first two dealt with 'Mycotoxins in Plant Disease' (Vol. 108(7) 2002) and 'Epidemiology of Mycotoxin Pro­ ducing Fungi' (Vol. 109(7) 2003). The present issue contains contributions which cover aspects of molecular diversity, phylogeny and PCR-detection of toxigenic Fusarium species and various ochratoxigenic fungi. We hope these will prove helpful to researchers involved in similar work and will stimulate the future studies required for the early detection of these fungi, which is so essential for overcoming the health risks associated with mycotoxin-contaminated food products.

Phylogeny and molecular diagnosis of mycotoxigenic fungi.- FUSARIUM-ID v. 1.0: A DNA sequence database for identifying Fusarium.- Quantitative detection of Fusarium species in wheat using TaqMan.- A species-specific PCR assay based on the calmodulin partial gene for identification of Fusarium verticillioides, F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans.- Detection and differentiation of trichothecene and enniatin-producing Fusarium species on smallgrain cereals.- Differentiation of Fusarium verticillioides from banana fruits by IGS and EF-1? sequence analyses.- Genetic markers for the analysis of variability and for production of specific diagnostic sequences in fumonisin-producing strains of Fusarium verticillioides.- Synteny in toxigenic Fusarium species: The fumonisin gene cluster and the mating type region as examples.- Mitochondrial DNA diversity and lineage determination of European isolates of Fusarium graminearum (Gibberella zeae).- Genetic diversity of Fusarium graminearum in Europe and Asia.- Mitochondrial DNA variability in Fusarium proliferatum (Gibberella intermedia).- Molecular and morphological diversity of Fusarium species in Finland and northwestern Russia.- Mycotoxin production and molecular variability of European and American isolates of Fusarium culmorum.- Toxin profile, fertility and AFLP analysis of Fusarium verticillioides from banana fruits.- Interfertility of two mating populations in the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex.- Identification of growth stage specific transcript profiles in Fusarium proliferatum (Gibberella fujiknroi, mating population D) by cDNA-AFLP analysis.- Molecular diversity of agriculturally important Aspergillus species.- PCR assay for identification of Aspergillus carbonarius and Aspergillus japonicus.- Production ofochratoxin A by Aspergillus ochraceus.- Analysis of differentially-expressed ochratoxin A biosynthesis genes of Penicillium nordicum.