Aarhus Universitets segl

Combined effect of secondary plant metabolites and beneficial microbes on mycotoxin production of Fusarium

Main subject area: Natural product chemistry, biopesticide, plant pathology, metabolites, LC-MS/MS

Short project description

Fusarium graminearum is a plant pathogen which is responsible for huge global yield losses in cereals. In addition, it produces mycotoxins which are of concern for animal and human health upon consumption.

It has been shown that a group of secondary plant metabolites, called benzoxazinoids, have a suppressive effect on the production of mycotoxins by Fusarium graminearum. The focus of this thesis work is to develop a method for quantification of selected mycotoxins in plant material and to quantify mycotoxin and benzoxazinoid levels in biological systems with cereals, the fusarium and a beneficial bacterial strain from Chr. Hansen. The ultimate goal will be to elucidate the relation between plant benzoxazinoids and mycotoxins in presence/absence of the beneficial bacterial strain from Chr. Hansen.

Project start

No specific time

Physical location of project and students work

AU Flakkebjerg and the Plant Health research department of Chr. Hansen located in Tåstrup.

Extent and type of project

45 or 60 ECTS: Experimental theses in which the student is responsible for collection and analysis of his/her own original data

Additional information

The master student will be conducting the project under the supervision of AU and a scientist from Chr. Hansen.