Aspergillus is a genus consisting of around two hundred fungal species, found all over the world. It is a filamentous fungus that occurs naturally in hay and compost/ While it is commercially used (for the production of citric acid), it is also controlled as a fungal species known to behave as a pathogen (in plants, humans and animals alike). In Europe, it is known to incidentally cause black mould problems in crops. The effects of seed treatment can be limited, as the pathogen is commonly found in soil. The impact of this disease can be minimised by means of careful crop management during harvesting and storage.
