Toxinogenicity ofMicrodochium nivale (Fusarium nivale) isolates from cereals in Poland.

Microdochium nivale (Fusarium nivale) was found to be frequently occuring in Poland pathogen of small grain cereals heads, causing symptoms similar to those observed after infection ofFusarium species. In consecutive years since 1985 till 1989 the following percentage of wheat and rye ears infected withM. Nivale and withFusarium head blight symptoms was found: 34%, 21%, 42%, 9%, 46% (wheat) and 57%, 43%, 65%, 4%, 47% (rye) heads.However, in naturally infected rye and wheat samples (kernels and chaff), we did not detect toxins usually present in samples infected with fungi of genusFusarium - such as deoxynivalenol and derivatives. TypicalFusarium trichothecene metabolites were also not present in cultures of 11M. nivale strains, growing 3-5 weeks on rice (45% water content) at 20°C. Cultures of two typical isolates on wheat grain (strain KF 1124) and on rice (KF 245) were found to be non toxic to broiler chickens when present in amount 20-40% in their diet. It can be concluded thatM. nivale (F. nivale) representatives in Poland did not produce toxic metabolites neither under laboratory condition nor after cereal ears infection under field conditions.