Incidence of zearalenone producing strains of Fusarium in barley seeds.

Barley grains at harvest in 1971, 1973 and 1974 were mycologically examined for isolates of the fungus Fusarium. These isolates were then examined for the ability to produce zearalenone. In 1974 the grain was also examined for the presence of zearalenone. The most common isolate was F. culmorum, 60 p. 100 of which in 1974, produced zearalenone. Other species isolated which produced this mycotoxin were F. moniliforme, F. graminearum, F. avenaceum, F. nivale and F. sambucinum var. coerulum, the last 3 species have not previously been recorded as producing zearalenone.