2026 Walter F. O. Marasas: Plant Science and Agronomy Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Plant Science and Agronomy	79	434	5	220	27384

Research.com Recognitions

2022 - Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in South Africa Leader Award
2007 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
2005 - Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society

Overview

What is he best known for?

The fields of study he is best known for:

Botany
Gene
Genetics

His primary scientific interests are in Fusarium, Mycotoxin, Fumonisin, Fumonisin B1 and Microbiology. His Fusarium study is focused on Botany in general. His Mycotoxin study combines topics from a wide range of disciplines, such as Esophageal cancer, Fungi imperfecti, Incidence and Fungus.

Walter F. O. Marasas combines subjects such as Aflatoxin and Carcinogen with his study of Fumonisin. In his study, Biological activity and Genotoxicity is strongly linked to Bioassay, which falls under the umbrella field of Fumonisin B1. His Microbiology research includes themes of Sphingolipid and Biochemistry.

His most cited work include:

Fusarium species: an illustrated manual for identification. (2162 citations)
Fumonisins--novel mycotoxins with cancer-promoting activity produced by Fusarium moniliforme. (1050 citations)
Structure elucidation of the fumonisins, mycotoxins from Fusarium moniliforme (511 citations)

What are the main themes of his work throughout his whole career to date?

The scientist’s investigation covers issues in Fusarium, Mycotoxin, Fumonisin, Botany and Fungi imperfecti. His studies in Fusarium integrate themes in fields like Zea mays, Agronomy, Microbiology, Veterinary medicine and Toxicity. His Mycotoxin research incorporates themes from Chromatography, Bioassay and Toxicology.

The various areas that Walter F. O. Marasas examines in his Fumonisin study include Tolerable daily intake, Fumonisin B1, Aflatoxin and Biochemistry. His research on Botany frequently connects to adjacent areas such as Sorghum. His study in Fusarium subglutinans is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing from both Canker and Fusarium mangiferae.

He most often published in these fields:

Fusarium (55.12%)
Mycotoxin (34.65%)
Fumonisin (33.07%)

What were the highlights of his more recent work (between 2001-2010)?

Fusarium (55.12%)
Fumonisin (33.07%)
Mycotoxin (34.65%)

In recent papers he was focusing on the following fields of study:

His primary areas of study are Fusarium, Fumonisin, Mycotoxin, Botany and Agronomy. He interconnects Veterinary medicine, Fungi imperfecti, Microbiology and Poaceae in the investigation of issues within Fusarium. His Fumonisin research is multidisciplinary, incorporating elements of Tolerable daily intake, Sweet sorghum, Sphingolipid, Fumonisin B1 and Aflatoxin.

His Mycotoxin research is multidisciplinary, incorporating perspectives in Chromatography, Toxicology, Inoculation and Food contaminant. In his research, Homothallism, Genetic variation and Mating type is intimately related to Amplified fragment length polymorphism, which falls under the overarching field of Botany. The Agronomy study combines topics in areas such as Fusarium proliferatum and Contamination.

Between 2001 and 2010, his most popular works were:

Phylogenetic lineages in the Botryosphaeriaceae (502 citations)
Fumonisins Disrupt Sphingolipid Metabolism, Folate Transport, and Neural Tube Development in Embryo Culture and In Vivo: A Potential Risk Factor for Human Neural Tube Defects among Populations Consuming Fumonisin-Contaminated Maize (455 citations)
Production of fumonisin analogs by Fusarium species. (452 citations)

In his most recent research, the most cited papers focused on:

Botany
Gene
Genetics

His primary areas of investigation include Fusarium, Fumonisin, Botany, Mycotoxin and Agronomy. His Fusarium mangiferae and Fusarium subglutinans study in the realm of Fusarium connects with subjects such as Fusarium sterilihyphosum. His Fumonisin study combines topics in areas such as Fumonisin B1, Aflatoxin, Microbiology and Carcinogen.

His work on Gibberella fujikuroi and Gibberella fujikuroi complex as part of general Botany study is frequently linked to Diversity, Lasiodiplodia and Neofusicoccum australe, bridging the gap between disciplines. The concepts of his Mycotoxin study are interwoven with issues in Tolerable daily intake, Fungi imperfecti and Cancer incidence. His Agronomy research focuses on subjects like Contamination, which are linked to Fusarium proliferatum, Aspergillus, Fusarium andiyazi and Veterinary medicine.

Best Publications

Fusarium species: an illustrated manual for identification.

Paul E. Nelson;T. A. Toussoun;W. F. O. Marasas

3751
Citations
Fumonisins--novel mycotoxins with cancer-promoting activity produced by Fusarium moniliforme.

W. C. A. Gelderblom;K. Jaskiewicz;W. F. O. Marasas;P. G. Thiel

1799
Citations
Phylogenetic lineages in the Botryosphaeriaceae

Pedro W. Crous;Bernard Slippers;Michael J. Wingfield;John Rheeder

1070
Citations
Toxicity and carcinogenicity of the fusanum monilzforine metabolite, fumonisin B1, in rats.

Wentzel Ca Gelderblom;Npj Kriek;Wfo Marasas;PG Thiel

987
Citations
Production of fumonisin analogs by Fusarium species.

John P. Rheeder;Walter F. O. Marasas;Hester F. Vismer

858
Citations
Structure elucidation of the fumonisins, mycotoxins from Fusarium moniliforme

S. Catherine Bezuidenhout;Wentzel C. A. Gelderblom;Charles P. Gorst-Allman;R. Marthinus Horak

855
Citations
Fumonisins Disrupt Sphingolipid Metabolism, Folate Transport, and Neural Tube Development in Embryo Culture and In Vivo: A Potential Risk Factor for Human Neural Tube Defects among Populations Consuming Fumonisin-Contaminated Maize

Walter F O Marasas;Ronald T. Riley;Katherine A. Hendricks;Victoria L. Stevens

804
Citations
Discovery and occurrence of the fumonisins: a historical perspective.

Walter F. O. Marasas

742
Citations
Fumonisin Contamination of Commercial Corn-Based Human Foodstuffs

Eric W. Sydenham;Gordon S. Shephard;Pieter G. Thiel;Walter F. O. Marasas

414
Citations
The implications of naturally occurring levels of fumonisins in corn for human and animal health.

Pieter G. Thiel;Walter F. O. Marasas;Eric W. Sydenham;Gordon S. Shephard

394
Citations
Fusarium moniliforme contamination of maize in oesophageal cancer areas in Transkei.

W. F. O. Marasas;K. Jaskiewicz;F. S. Venter;D. J. Van Schalkwyk

347
Citations
Fumonisins: history, world-wide occurrence and impact.

Walter F. O. Marasas

341
Citations
Isolation of the fumonisin mycotoxins: A quantitative approach

Maria E. Cawood;Wentzel C. A. Gelderblom;Robert Vleggaar;Yosef Behrend

332
Citations
Infection of maize by Fusarium species and contamination with fumonisin in africa

P. Fandohan;K. Hell;W. F. O. Marasas;M. J. Wingfield

323
Citations
Fumonisins: their implications for human and animal health.

Walter F. O. Marasas

318
Citations
Survey of fumonisin production by Fusarium species.

P G Thiel;W F Marasas;E W Sydenham;G S Shephard

312
Citations
Evidence for the natural occurrence of fumonisin B1, a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium moniliforme in corn.

Eric W. Sydenham;Wentzel C. A. Gelderblom;Pieter G. Thiel;Walter F. O. Marasas

292
Citations
Primary liver cancer and oesophageal basal cell hyperplasia in rats caused by Fusarium moniliforme.

Walter F. O. Marasas;Nicolaas P. J. Kriek;John E. Fincham;Schalk J. Van Rensburg

268
Citations
Diversity and evolution of Fusarium species in the Gibberella fujikuroi complex

Marija Kvas;Walter F.O. Marasas;Brenda D. Wingfield;Michael J. Wingfield

262
Citations
Fate of aflatoxins and fumonisins during the processing of maize into food products in Benin.

P. Fandohan;D. Zoumenou;D.J. Hounhouigan;W.F.O. Marasas

261
Citations
Fumonisins: isolation, chemical characterization and biological effects.

Wentzel C. A. Gelderblom;Walter F. O. Marasas;R. Vleggaar;Pieter G. Thiel

234
Citations
First report of Fusarium subglutinans f.sp. pini on pine seedlings in South Africa

A. Viljoen;M. J. Wingfield;W. F. O. Marasas

225
Citations
PCR-Based Identification of MAT-1 and MAT-2 in the Gibberella fujikuroi Species Complex

Emma T. Steenkamp;Brenda D. Wingfield;Teresa A. Coutinho;Kurt A. Zeller

207
Citations
Toxicity, pathogenicity, and genetic differentiation of five species of Fusarium from sorghum and millet.

John F. Leslie;Kurt A. Zeller;Sandra C. Lamprecht;John P. Rheeder

201
Citations
Natural occurrence of Fusarium and subsequent fumonisin contamination in preharvest and stored maize in Benin, West Africa

P. Fandohan;B. Gnonlonfin;K. Hell;W.F.O. Marasas

186
Citations
Two new species of Fusarium section Liseola associated with mango malformation.

Henriette Britz;Emma T. Steenkamp;Teresa A. Coutinho;Brenda D. Wingfield

184
Citations
Fusarium thapsinum (Gibberella thapsina): A new species in section Liseola from sorghum

Carla J. R. Klittich;John F. Leslie;Paul E. Nelson;Walter F. O. Marasas

175
Citations
Natural occurrence of moniliformin together with deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in Transkeian corn

Pieter G. Thiel;Cornelius J. Meyer;Walter F. O. Marasas

171
Citations
Natural occurrence of fumonisins in corn from Iran.

Gordon S. Shephard;Walter F. O. Marasas;Norma L. Leggott;Hassan Yazdanpanah

170
Citations
Incidence, geographic distribution, and toxigenicity of Fusarium species in South African corn.

W. F. O. Marasas;N. P. J. Kriek;V. M. Wiggins;P. S. Steyn

163
Citations
Fumonisin Concentrations in Brazilian Feeds Associated with Field Outbreaks of Confirmed and Suspected Animal Mycotoxicoses

Eric W. Sydenham;Walter F. O. Marasas;Gordon S. Shephard;Pieter G. Thiel

153
Citations
The name Fusarium moniliforme should no longer be used

Keith A. Seifert;Takayuki Aoki;Robert P. Baayen;David Brayford

148
Citations
Moniliformin Production In Fusarium Section Liseola

W. F. O. Marasas;P. G. Thiel;C. J. Rabie;Paul E. Nelson

143
Citations