Mycotoxins in cereal grain. Part I. Ochratoxin, citrinin, sterigmatocystin, penicillic acid and toxigenic fungi in cereal grain.

Contamination with ochratoxin A mainly and also with citrinin, penicillic acid and sterigmatocystin was observed in moldy cereal grain samples (wheat, rye, and barley), during 1975-1978 years. The levels of cereal grain contamination in various years were very different. However usually during two months after harvest percentage of contaminated samples was 5-7% and ochratoxin A content not higher than 140 microgram/kg. During storage of grain with high moisture content slow increase of contamination level was observed-particularly during January and February - to level 1-3 mg/kg. Cereal grain from commercial channels was contaminated with fungi spores sometimes up to 10(9) spores per gram. Aspergillus and Penicillium were predominating species. Between 69 fungi isolates typical for barley kernels 13 were procedures of ochratoxin, sterigmatocystin, penicillic acid and F-2 toxin. Results for wheat and rye will be published later.