The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Mycotoxins are toxic biochemical substances produced by fungi. They are produced on grains, fishmeal, peanuts, and many other substances, including all kinds of decaying vegetation. Mycotoxins are produced by several species of fungi—especially Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium—under appropriate environmental conditions of temperature, moisture, and oxygen on crops in the field or in storage bins. In recent years, research on this subject has indicated considerable specialization in mycotoxin production by fungi. For example, aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 are relatively similar mycotoxins produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus under conditions of temperatures ranging from 80-100°F (27-38°C) and 18-20% moisture in the grain. Aflatoxins are among the most potent carcinogens among naturally occurring products. Head scab on wheat in the field is produced by the fungus Fusarium graminearum which produces a mycotoxin known as DON (deoxynivalenol), also known as Vomitoxin.