Natural Occurrence of Fusarium Mycotoxins in Polish Cereals

Abstract

About 200 field samples of naturally contaminated wheat, barley and oats were collected during two years (1994, 1995) and analyzed on trichothecene mycotoxins presence. Wheat kernels were contaminated at the average contamination level (μg/kg): DON - 51 (65% of positive samples); NIV - 55 (43%); 3-AcDON - 15 (38%); T-2 - 17 (7%) and HT-2 - 16 ( 4%). All wheat kernels with visible symptoms of scab (average 17 % of kernels infected with Fusarium) the following amounts (μg/kg) of toxic metabolites were found: DON 9628; NIV 57; 3-AcDON 457; 15-AcDON 265, T-2 33; HT-2 49 (50%). Barley kernels exhibited contamination with trichothecene mycotoxins: DON 120 (91%); NIV 53 (72%); 3-AcDON 20 (19%); 15-AcDON 16 (22%); T-2 38 (62%); HT-2 49 (50%), while oats with: DON 69 (79%); NIV 56 (93%); 3-AcDON 19 (50%); 15-AcDON 15 (57%); FUS-X 52 (36%); T-2 110 (50%); HT-2 192 (42%). The above result indicate on wide presence of group B trichothecenes in kernels of cereals (mainly oats) in Poland.