Description

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Context:

Two Chinese researchers have been charged in the US for smuggling Fusarium graminearum, a toxic crop-destroying fungus, raising fears of agro-terrorism.

What is Agro-Terrorism?

Agroterrorism, also known as agriterrorism and agricultural terrorism, is a malicious attempt to disrupt or destroy the agricultural industry and/or food supply system of a population through "the malicious use of plant or animal pathogens to cause devastating disease in the agricultural sectors".

It is closely related to the concepts of biological warfare, chemical warfare and entomological warfare, except carried out by non-state parties.

Regulated by:

In the US: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and FBI Bio Safety Protocols were monitored.
Globally: Controlled and plants of respective countries through international phytosanitary regulations.

About Fusarium Graminearum:

Aspect	Details
Type of Organism	Fungus
Affected Crops	Wheat, barley, maize (corn), rice
Disease Caused	Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), Ear Rot, Stalk Rot
Impact on Crop	- Affects kernel development - Reduces yield - Continues to spread as crop matures
Survival Mechanism	Survives in plant tissue residues such as small grain stems and roots
Infection Spread	Infects new plants from infected residues
Toxin Produced	Vomitoxin (Deoxynivalenol or DON)
Toxin Impact (Human & Livestock)	Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever
Economic Impact	Causes over $1 billion in crop losses annually in the United States alone (as per USDA)
Public Health Risk	Makes grain unsafe for human and animal consumption due to toxin contamination

First use in 660 BC?

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) reports that the Assyrians were the first to use it in 660 BC, when they used mycotoxin-containing rye ergot (Claviceps purpurea) to contaminate enemy water sources.
In modern times, Germany was the first country to resort to this weapon during World War I when they allegedly used glanders (Burkholderia mallei) and anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) to infect horses.
They allegedly used fungi to contaminate food grain stores, intended for supplies to allied forces in Europe.

Is India vulnerable to Pakistani agroterrorism?

Agro-terrorism can cause catastrophe in India which has key agricultural states like Punjab, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh sharing their borders with hostile neighbours like Pakistan and China.
The DRDO has said in another research paper that a toxic fungus reported in neighboring Bangladesh was found in two districts of West Bengal.
The pathogen discovered was Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT), a wheat-blast-causing fungus. However, its spread was contaminated by banning wheat cultivation in the two districts for three years.
There is no report of China smuggling any pathogens to India, but the possibility can not be ruled out.
The danger of toxic pathogens being smuggled into India from Pakistan is looming large in the wake of the present India-Pakistan relations.

Source: Livemint.Com

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to Agroterrorism, consider the following statements:

Fusarium graminearum, a fungus associated with agroterrorism, produces a toxin called Deoxynivalenol which can make grains unsafe for both human and animal consumption.
Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum, responsible for wheat blast disease, has been reported in some districts of Punjab, India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: a

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Fusarium graminearum produces Deoxynivalenol (also known as Vomitoxin), which contaminates grains and poses serious health risks to humans and animals.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum was reported in West Bengal, not Punjab.