Fungi in stored barley treated with systemic fungicides

Abstract Six fungicides (benomyl, carbendazim, fuberidazole, thiabendazole, thiophanate and thiophanate‐methyl) were applied as dusts to barley in concentrations of 100, 1000 and 10 000 μg g−1 and the barley then stored at 20°C and 90% relative humidity for 60, 105 and 150 days, respectively. Fungal development during storage was assessed by counting the visible patches of developing mould and by dilution plating. None of the fungicides completely prevented fungi developing but for the period up to 60 days, all provided a degree of control that was generally greatest for the highest concentration of fungicide. Benomyl was the most effective of the fungicides but no clear pattern was established for the others. Of the fungi that developed, species of Aspergillus and Penicillium accounted for 94% of the total count.