Heterochromatin influences the secondary metabolite profile in the plant pathogen Fusarium graminearum

► Heterochromatin protein characterized in F. graminearum. ► Heterochromatic marks regulate secondary metabolism in this fungus. ► Aurofusarin and DON production under Hep1 regulation. ► Surprisingly, Hep1 positively regulates DON biosynthesis. ► Silencing of SM genes by heterochromatin could be conserved mechanism in ascomycetes.