Biodiversity and distribution of Fusarium species on maize in Belgium

In Belgium, 9.2 million tons of maize plants are harvested annually from 247.000 hectares of farm land, mainly used as livestock feed (www.statbel.fgov.be). However, crop quality is often reduced by ear and stalk rots due to a large number of Fusarium species, and their associated mycotoxins may be a serious problem for both human and animal health (Wilson et al. 1990, Chu and Li 1994, Desjardins 2006). In order to investigate the pre-harvest contamination by Fusarium species of maize ears and stalks in Belgium and to obtain a better understanding of the involvement of these species in the fusariosis symptoms, a three-year survey has been performed in five fields with contrasted cultural practices.