applied sciences  
The Concentration-Dependent Effects of Essential Oils on the Growth of _Fusarium graminearum_ and Mycotoxins Biosynthesis in Wheat and Maize Grain  
[PERSON],*, [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON] and [PERSON]  
Department of Natural Science and Quality Assurance, Institute of Quality Science, Poznan University of Economics and Business, Niepodlegloci 10, 61-875 Poznan, Poland; [PERSON]. ); [PERSON]AIL_ADDRESS] (K.J.) Department of Chemistry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Woiska Polskiego 75, 60-625 Poznan, Poland; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (P.A.U. ); [PERSON].) Research Centre for Registration of Agrochemicals, Institute of Plant Protection-National Research Institute, Wladyslawa Wegorka 20, 60-318 Poznan, Poland; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] Department of Need Science and Plant Protection Technique, Institute of Plant Protection-National Research Institute, Wladyslawa Wegorka 20, 60-318 Poznan, Poland; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] Correspondence: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]; Tel. : +48-61-856-95-36  
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respectively [1]. Both cereals are used as food ingredients and animal feed, as they are good sources of nutrients. Moreover, different types of food and industrial products, including sweeteners, starch, oil, beverages, glue, industrial alcohol, and fuel ethanol, can be produced from wheat and maize. The consumption of these cereals varies mainly by region; maize is consumed highly in Central America, Southern and Eastern Africa, and Mexico, while wheat is preferred mainly in Central Asia, the Middle East, South and North America, and Europe [2]. A serious problem in wheat and corn crops consists of infections caused by the _Fusarium_ genus, the filamentous fungi commonly found in soil and on plants, contaminating agricultural commodities both on the field and in storage [3]. _Fusarium_ _gaminearum_ is one of the most prevalent species that infect cereals in humid and semi-humid areas worldwide [4], responsible for devastating and hazardous plant diseases, such as stalk and ear rot of maize, as well as _Fusarium_ head blight (FHB), crown rot, and seedling blight on wheat and other cereals [5]. _Fusarium_ diseases cause losses not only due to yield, quality and nutritional properties reduction, but also because contamination of grains with mycotoxins affects food and feed safety, posing a threat to human and animals' health [4]. The most widespread mycotoxins associated with _F. graminearum_ infection in cereals include zearalenone (ZEA) and trichothecenes, such as nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON), and its acetylated derivatives 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON), 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-ADON) and deoxynivalenol 3 \(\beta\)-D-glucose (DON-3-G) [6; 7; 8]. ZEA is considered an estrogenic mycotoxin and found to be toxic for the liver, kidney, and immune system [9], while trichothecenes can inhibit protein synthesis and induce anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, and cell death, along with altering immune function, phosphokinase-mediated stress pathways, proinflammatory gene expression, gastrointestinal function, and the action of growth hormones [6; 10]. Up to now, synthetic fungicides have been the primary tool to control contamination by _Fusarium_ fungi and their mycotoxins, while many other policies have been developed and implemented to inhibit or reduce fungal growth and mycotoxin biosynthesis in different crops, notably in cereals. In recent years, the use of chemicals has increased consumer awareness, and their use is becoming more challenging due to carcinogenic effects, residual toxicity problems, environmental pollution, and increasing microbial resistance [11].