Key mechanism in the plant defense against fungal infections
Tuesday, April 11, 2017 - 06:02
in Health & Medicine
Each year, fungal infections destroy at least 125 million tons of the world's five most important crops—rice, wheat, maize, soybeans and potatoes—a quantity that could feed 600 million people. Fungi are not only a problem in the field, but also produce large losses in the post-harvest supply chain stage. Also, it should be noted that some fungi produce mycotoxins, substances capable of causing disease and death in both humans and animals. Farmers use fungicides to treat fungal infections, but these are not always 100 percent effective and, moreover, consumers increasingly demand pesticide-free products.