Fungi, Especially Gibberella zeae, and Zearalenone Occurrence in Wheat

SUMMARYA study was made of the occurrence of Gibberella zeae in 102 samples of wheat marketed in 1975. Of the 19 zearalenone-positive samples, G. zeae infection of surface-sterilized wheat kernels ranged from 6% to 60%. No G. zeae was detected in 35 samples. The highest level of zearalenone was 11,054 ppb in a sample with 36% infection. In wheat, 17 samples with over 10% infection were positive for zearalenone and seven were negative. Aspergillus flavus was detected in 53 samples with an infection of 2–46% but no aflatoxin was found. Various species of Alternarla were found in 100 of the 102 samples.