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Crop Research

Mycotoxins

Introduction This area on HGCA's website provides easy access to levy-funded reference material and tools to help growers and store keepers minimise risk of mycotoxin formation in the field and store. The site will be updated as new tools and publications become available. Mycotoxins Mycotoxins are toxic chemicals produced by specific fungi which

Quick Links Fusarium mycotoxin risk assessment  Fusarium mycotoxins incidence and levels (historical data to 2009) Safe storage time calculator Crop Monitor

infect crops. Different fungal species produce mycotoxins of widely varying toxicity to humans and animals; hence there are different permitted levels in foodstuffs and feed. Grain is susceptible to mycotoxins produced either whilst the crop is growing by Fusarium species or during storage by Penicillium species.

Field mycotoxins

In the field, infection of ears by Fusarium species can result in mycotoxin development when the weather is warm and wet at flowering. Fusarium mycotoxin occurrence may be greater when wet weather delays harvest. Crops infected at flowering may have individual bleached spikelets, or partially bleached ears, resulting at harvest in pink or chalky-white shrivelled grains. However, there is little correlation between fusarium damaged grains and mycotoxin occurrence.

Resources

Fusarium mycotoxin risk assessment sheet

Fusarium mycotoxins incidence and levels update 2009

Storage mycotoxins

In the store, ochratoxin A (OTA) may be produced by the storage mould Penicillium verrucosum if grain exceeds 18% moisture content. The greatest risk occurs during harvest backlogs and during ambient air drying when grain may take weeks to dry. OTA incidence can be unpredictable. In the UK only some strains of Penicillium verrucosum produce OTA. Even when present, those strains do not always produce toxins.

Safe storage time calculator

Useful links to other websites

Food Standards Agency
www.food.gov.uk

The UK Code of Good Agricultural Practice to Reduce Fusarium Mycotoxins in Cereals (2007) FSA
www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/fusariumcop.pdf

The UK Code of Good Storage Practice to Reduce Ochratoxin A in Cereals (2007) FSA
www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/ochratoxinacop.pdf

Red Tractor Industry Code of Practice for On Farm Feeding
http://www.redtractor.org.uk/site/REDT/Templates/GeneralStandards.aspx?pageid=40&cc=GB