The concentration of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) of 80 cereal grain samples of the German harvest 1995 was investigated. In addition to this, the total as well as the inherent mycoflora of two winter wheat and two winter rye brands which showed the highest EPS-concentration was detected on maltsalt agar (NaCl 5%). Surface disinfection with 1% NaOCl for the determination of the internal mycoflora caused a significant reduction in number and kind of fungi. However, the mycoflora of all samples was dominated by fungi of the genera Alternaria spp. and Cladosporium spp., Aureobasidium pullulans, Fusarium spp. and Epicoccum purpurascens (in decreasing order) occurred to a minor extent. A possible contamination of the cereal grains with mycotoxins of Alternaria and Cladosporium is discussed.