BACKGROUND: Fusarium toxins, secondary metabolites of toxinogenic Fusarium species, are found in a range of cereal grains. In this study the occurrence of the most commonest Fusarium toxins, namely nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON), deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside, fusarenon-X, 3- and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, HT-2 and T-2 toxins and zearalenone, in various barley cultivars harvested in 2005-2008 was monitored. The impact of weather, locality, fungicide treatment and barley cultivar (hulless or covered) on contamination was evaluated. The transfer of these mycotoxins into malt was assessed. RESULTS: The most prevalent toxin was DON, which was found in 83% of samples (maximum level 180 µg kg(-1)), while HT-2 was detected in 62% of samples (maximum level 716 µg kg(-1)). Using analysis of covariance, weather was found to be the key factor in all years (P < 0.001). A relationship between cultivar and contamination was confirmed only for HT-2 (P < 0.001) and T-2 (P = 0.037), with higher levels of these toxins being observed in hulless cultivars. With the exception of NIV (P = 0.008), no significant relationship was found between fungicide treatment and contamination. No distinct trend regarding DON levels in malt was found, with both decreases and increases occurring. CONCLUSION: The results show an inter-annual variation in mycotoxin occurrence in barley cultivars as well as differences in contamination of malt produced from fungicide-treated and untreated barley.

Department of Food Chemistry and Analysis Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology Institute of Chemical Technology Prague Technicka 3 166 28 Prague 6 Czech Republic

References provided by Crossref.org

Decontaminant activity of volume dielectric barrier discharge against Fusarium spp. on barley seeds

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Fusarium Mycotoxins in Two Hulless Oat and Barley Cultivars Used for Food Purposes