FUSARIUM INFECTION IN NEW-ZEALAND GRAIN

Fusarium infection of barley, maize, oats, and wheat was determined in a total of 362 samples of grain harvested in New Zealand during 1987, 1988, and 1989. The incidence of other fungi with toxigenic potential such as Microdochium nivale, Diplodia maydis, and Penicillium and Alternaria species was also recorded. The amount of Fusarium infection varied with grain type and region of origin. Samples from the South Island had a lower level of infection than samples from the North Island. Maize had the highest level of infection. F. graminearum and F. crookwellense were the Fusarium species most frequently recovered from maize, whereas F. graminearum and F. culmorum were the most common species isolated from barley and wheat grown in regions showing a high level of infection. A number of potentially toxigenic Penicillium species were recovered from maize.