Mycotoxin contamination of Lithuanian-grown cereal grains and factors determining it

During the period 2003–2005, spring and winter cereal grain samples were analysed for the presence of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), T-2 toxin, ochratoxin A and aflatoxin (total) by the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture. Mycotoxin DON produced by the fungi of the genus Fusarium was found to be most frequent in Lithuanian-grown cereal grains. DON-contaminated samples accounted for 84.0–98.0% of the total samples analysed. Grains of spring cereals were found to be more heavily contaminated by this toxin than those of winter cereals. The level of ZEN contamination was higher in spring wheat, barley and oats as compared with winter wheat, rye and triticale grains. T-2 toxin producers Fusarium poae, F. sporotrichioides prevailed in the Lithuanian-grown cereal grains. Analysis of T-2 toxin in oat grains showed the actual relevance of studies of this toxin, since during the period 2003– 2005 the oat grains tested was 100% contaminated with this toxin. Elevated T-2 toxin concentrations were identified not only in oats but also in spring barley and winter rye grain samples. Eighty per cent of spring barley grain samples were contaminated with ochratoxin; in 42.0% of samples its concentrations exceeded 3.0 μg kg-1, and their contamination with aflatoxin (total) amounted to 67.9%, but the contents identified did not exceed the levels specified in the EU regulations.