The toxin of scab hurts wheat and harms people.

"the scab is so serious this year that the wheat certainly won't fetch a good price."

"did you know that scab produces toxins?"

In the face of the reporter's question, Han Hongchang, a major grain grower in Jiangyan, Jiangsu Province, could not answer. In Jingjiang, Jiangsu Province, Zhou Renjie, a big grain grower, only knows about the poor quality of wheat with scab and little else.

Since June this year, a reporter from the Science and Technology Daily found through an interview that due to a large-scale outbreak of scab, lack of warning and publicity by relevant departments, and lack of rapid testing methods and equipment, the public knew only one or two of the harm of scab, and the harm of Fusarium toxin in wheat was not well known to the public.

"invisible killer" Fusarium toxin

"compared with the reduction in production caused by scab, the bacteria and toxins in wheat are more harmful, which is the 'invisible killer' that needs to be vigilant." Professor Zhou Mingguo of Nanjing Agricultural University said.

When Fusarium oxysporum attacks wheat, it also produces mycotoxins mainly deoxynivalenol (vomiting toxin DON). Eating diseased wheat will cause acute poisoning symptoms such as vertigo, fever, nausea, diarrhea and so on. In severe cases, it will cause bleeding and affect immunity and fertility.

DON toxin is the third kind of carcinogen recognized internationally, and its content in food is strictly limited in many countries.

Entrusted by the Food Safety Inspection Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Food quality, Safety and testing Institute of Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences has continuously tested wheat in Jiangsu and surrounding areas for DON toxins since 2012. According to a reporter from the Science and Technology Daily, there are six similar testing centers across the country.

How to deal with "poisonous" diseased wheat

"your imperfect wheat grains are 99% high and 61% low. They are foreign wheat, and the grain depot cannot be purchased."

On June 10, major grain growers Shen Jinshui and Cheng Shengxiao came to Lishui District and Feng Grain Reserve Depot in Nanjing with their harvested wheat, but the test results cooled their hearts a lot.

Rui Bisheng, head of the grain depot, said that the state stipulates that the imperfect grains of third-class wheat do not exceed 8%, and the imperfect grains of second-class wheat do not exceed 6%. The imperfect grains of Lao Shen and Lao Cheng seriously exceed the standard.

"the content of DON toxin is the highest in wheat bran, which can be effectively removed by finishing." Dr. Qiu Jianbo of the Food Inspection Institute of Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences thinks so.

It is necessary to prescribe the right medicine to prevent and control scab

"in 2015, we collected more than 5900 strains of Fusarium in Jiangsu, of which 60 per cent were drug resistant." Zhou Mingguo said, "the top priority is to remove carbendazim from the list of pesticides for the prevention and control of scab and encourage enterprises to develop and farmers to use new pesticides."

He has been clamoring for this suggestion for many years, but the effect is not obvious.

"the central government has special funds for prevention and control, which is 146 million yuan allocated to Jiangsu this year, but it can only cover 70 percent of one drug administration, while the province has hit an average of two times per mu." Wu Jiawen, Plant Protection Station in Jiangsu Province, said that they are also calling on relevant state departments to increase investment to ensure that all wheat can enjoy free prevention and control once per mu.

On the other hand, how to find effective fungicide resources and break the "endless cycle" of both drug consumption and drug resistance has become the key to improve the efficiency of comprehensive prevention and control.

In 2011, Jiangsu Pesticide Research Institute successfully developed a new anti-scab agent cyanostrobin, which is independently innovated in China, and its action mechanism is completely different from traditional drugs such as carbendazim, and its efficacy is outstanding in the field. In the past two years, Zhou Mingguo has also taken the lead in developing a series of NAU biochemical agents, which are effective in inhibiting the formation of DON toxins, with a maximum reduction of 67.2%. A series of control agents developed by Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences can also effectively control the occurrence of wheat scab and inhibit and degrade the growth of DON toxin, which can be reduced by 40% and 60%.

"at present, the condition in Henan, Shandong and other major wheat producing areas is not so serious, and this precious window can no longer be missed." Zhou Mingguo appealed that wheat is one of the most important food rations in China, and the harvest and quality in northern wheat areas are directly related to national food security and social stability, and the problem of drug resistance of scab in Jiangsu must not be repeated in other wheat areas.