A SURVEY OF THE NATURAL OCCURRENCE OF FUSARIUM MYCOTOXINS IN CEREALS GROWN IN NEW-ZEALAND IN 1986-1989

Fusarium mycotoxins, principally trichothecenes, occurred commonly in grain from crops in the North Island of New Zealand, but were much less common and also at the much lower levels in grains from South Island regions. The principal contaminants were trichothecenes of the nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON) types. Trichothecenes derived from scirpentriol and T-2 tetraol were not common. Moniliformin occurred very rarely, while zearalenone contamination was not uncommon, but the levels were generally low. Maize kernels were commonly contaminated by moderate levels of both NIV- and DON-type trichothecenes, with levels up to 3.6 mg/kg and 11.95 mg/kg respectively recorded. The occurrence of NIV-type trichothecenes as a general contaminant in the range of 0.3-0.8 mg/kg, and frequently as the main contaminant, is unusual.