Is the common fungus Fusarium graminearum an ‘agroterrorism agent’?
Two Chinese researchers charged with smuggling and conspiracy after attempting to enter the US with fungus that causes crop damage
Two Chinese scientists were charged with conspiracy and smuggling on Tuesday after attempting to clear US customs with a plant disease-causing fungus that officials called a “potential agroterrorism agent”.
Her partner, Liu Zunyong, a researcher at Zhejiang University, has also been charged in the case. But he was turned away at the Detroit airport last year after samples of the fungus were found in his backpack, and he remains outside the US.
In a filing to a Detroit federal court, the FBI said the scientific literature described the fungus’ potential use as an agricultural weapon. It claimed the incident posed “an imminent threat to public safety”.
The Post takes a look at Fusarium graminearum and its prevalence in crop fields across the US, as well as what the science says about its potential as an agroterrorism agent.
What is Fusarium, and how common is it in the US?
Fusarium graminearum, also known as Gibberella zeae, is a fungus found across the US and the world in temperate and semitropical regions. It infects several types of crops, including barley, oats, rice and wheat.