Mycotoxins in corn ears naturally infected with Fusarium graminearum and F. crookwellense

Abstract

The mycotoxins zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, 3- or 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, nivalenol, and fusarenone occurred in the kernels and cobs of five samples of corn ears affected by red ear rot in Poland in 1988. Zearalenone (0.7-350 mg/ kg) was present in all samples. Deoxynivalenol (12-208 mg/ kg), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (0-7.5 mg/ kg), and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (0-8.8 mg/kg) were detected in three samples infected with Fusarium graminearum. Nivalenol (33-56 mg/kg) and fusarenone (0.6-20 mg/ kg) were found in two samples infected with F. crookwellense. These results agree with reports on mycotoxin production by these two fungi under laboratory conditions.