On ochratoxin A and fungal flora in Polish cereals from conventional and ecological farms. Part 2: occurrence of ochratoxin A and fungi in cereals in 1998.
Over 200 samples of Polish cereal grain from the 1998 harvest obtained from conventional and ecological farms were investigated for the presence of ochratoxin A and for contamination by microscopic fungi. The frequency of contamination of rye and barley grains from conventional and ecological farms was similar in most cases; it varied from nearly 5 to 12%, respectively, for both types of farming. However, in samples from ecological farms, higher maximum concentrations of ochratoxin A were observed (35 micro g kg(-1), overall range 1.4-35.3 micro g kg(-1)) for both cereals rye and barley in comparison with rye and barley from conventional farms (maximum levels of 8.8 and 9.7 micro g kg(-1), respectively). However, wheat grain from the conventional farms showed ochratoxin A concentrations in a very wide range from 0.6 to 1024 micro g kg(-1) and the average frequency of contaminated samples was about 48%. In contrast, in wheat samples from ecological farming, the presence of ochratoxin A ranged from 0.8 to 1.6 micro g kg(-1) (mean 1.2 micro g kg(-1)) and the frequency of contamination was 23%. From samples containing detectable amounts of ochratoxin A, fungi producing ochratoxin A under laboratory conditions were isolated. They were classified as belonging to the species Penicillium cyclopium, P. viridicatum, Aspergillus ochraceus group, A. glaucus and A. versicolor. Penicillium strains-species known to be producers of ochratoxin A-were isolated from 71% of the samples; in 28% of samples, only Aspergillus strains (species known to be producers of this mycotoxin) were noted. These results have been compared with those obtained in 1997.
Czerwiecki
L
L
Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology, 36, Rakowiecka Street, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland. czerwiecki@ibprs.pl
Czajkowska
D
D
Witkowska-Gwiazdowska
A
A
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010407:Penicillium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011044:Poland
D009183:Mycotoxins; D009793:Ochratoxins; C025589:ochratoxin A