Mycotoxins in cereal grain. Part IX. Zearalenone and Fusaria in wheat, barley, rye and corn kernels

Abstract

Toxigenic Fusaria, producing zearalenone, appeared in 31% of cereal grain samples. However zearalenone was present only in 0.5% of 584 cereal samples assayed during 1979-1981 at level 0.2-1.2 mg/kg. Fungi able to form zearalenone were present mainly in grain collected from breeding stations. Fusarium culmorum was dominant among toxigenic isolates from domestic cereals and yield of zearalenone was up to 700 mg/kg.