In 1963, a severe epidemic of cereal scab caused by Gibberella zeae occurred in southern Korea and to a less extent in central and northern Korea. In some areas losses were 80∼100 percent. The epiphytotic was due to heavy rainfall during the heading and flowering season which provided a favorable environment for this severe epidemic. Yield losses resulted a great social problem because of the resultant food and feed grain shortage, lose of seeds for planting the following crops and mycotoxicoses to man and animals.
In the same year, a nationwide research committee was organized including plant pathologists, microbiologists, agronomists and biochemists under the juristiction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The committee initiated research on etiology, epidemiology, and control of the disease and on the toxic effects of infected grains to man and animals. The present paper will review some research carried out in Korea on cereal scab with special reference to epidemiology and mycotoxicoses to animals and man. In addition, the present status of research in Korea on aflatoxins in foods and toxic moldy rice will be briefly reviewed.
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