Mycological Examination of Improperly Stored Grains

In order to collect information on the abundance and distribution of moulds, with special reference to Fusarium, Penicillium and Aspergillus in deteriorated grains, a mycological investigation was carried out. A total of 73 samples (barley, oats, wheat) were examined. The number of colony-forming units of moulds per g sample varied from 1.2x104 to 9.9x107, with a mean value of 7.4x106. The penicillia which were the predominant group of moulds, were demonstrated in 99% of the samples. Sixteen species of Penicillium were demonstrated, with Penicillium puberulum (Bain.), Penicillium brevicompactum (Dierckx), Penicillium viridicatum (Westling) and Penicillium melanochlorum (comb. nov. Frisvad) as the four most frequent organisms. Fusarium spp. were demonstrated in 75% of the samples. Twelve Fusarium spp. were demonstrated, Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium tricinctum being the three most frequent. Aspergillus spp. were demonstrated in 29% of the samples, though rarely quantitatively dominant. The most frequent aspergilli were Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus.