Toxigenic Alternaria species: impact in cereals worldwide

Alternaria is one of the main mycotoxigenic fungal genera found in cereals worldwide. Reports of black point and leaf blight diseases associated with Alternaria on cereals are continually published and recent studies have shown the possible and significant impact their toxins may have on human health. Although, cereal grains are constantly affected by Alternaria spp. and their toxins, still little relevance is given on the subject. At the moment, tenuazonic acid in sorghum/millet-based infant food is the only Alternaria toxin regulated by an official government authority (Bavarian health and food safety authority). This review reports the complex Alternaria species taxonomy, their prevalence and ability to produce a diverse group of mycotoxins and their impact on cereal grains worldwide.