Susceptibility of Barley Cultivars and Lines to Fusarium Infection and Mycotoxin Accumulation in Kernels

Heads of 12 barley genotypes (8 cultivars and 4 lines) were inoculated with conidial suspension of the following single isolates: F. culmorum no. 3, F. graminearum no. 122 and F. sporotrichioides no. ATCC 62 360. The number of kernels per head. 1000 Kernel weight and yield have been calculated for each genotype. Seed samples collected at harvest were analysed for each genotype. Seed samples collected at harvest were analysed for several trichothecene mycotoxins and zearalenone.The mycotoxin concentrations (mg/kg) in barley kernels inoculated with F. graminearum were as follows. deoxynivalenol (DON) 0.1 to 5.4 (av. 2.3). 3-acetyldeoxy-nivalenol (3-AcDON) 0.0–0.2 (av. 0.1), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-AcDON) 0.0–0.7 (av.0.2), nivalenol (NIV) 0.0–0.8 (av. 0.3). zearalenone (ZEA) 0.0–0.1 (av. 0.0); F. culmorum: DON 0.6 to 12.0 (av. 5.3), 3-AcDON 0.1 to 1.0 (av. 0.6). 15-AcDON nd. NIV 0.1–0.7 (av. 0.3). ZEA 0.1–0.5 (av. 0.2). F. sporotrichioides T-2 toxin 2.4–13.9 (av. 6.0), HT-2-toxin 0.1–0.8 (av.0.3) and neosolaniol 0.2–1.5 (av.0.7).     

Production of trichothecene mycotoxins byFusarium graminearum andFusarium culmorum on barley and wheat

Wheat cultivars (Stoa, MN87150, SuMai-3, YMI-6, Wheaton) and barley cultivars (Robust, Excel, Chevron, M69) were inoculated in the field with isolates ofFusarium graminearum andF. culmorum. The diseased (Fusarium head blight) kernels were analyzed for deoxynivalenol (DON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) and nivalenol (NIV).F. culmorum produced all three trichothecenes on all cultivars tested whereasF. graminearum only produced DON and 15-ADON. There was no well defined correlation between DON production in the host and resistance although the data tended to favor SuMai-3 as having definitive resistance to bothF. graminearum andF. culmorum.Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, Paper No. 20 279.     

Characterisation of<Emphasis Type="Italic">fusarium graminearum</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">F. culmorum</Emphasis> isolates by mycotoxin production and aggressiveness to wheat

A total of 27Fusarium culmorum isolates from Germany and 41F. graminearum isolates from Kenya were investigated for aggressiveness and mycotoxin production on wheat ears. In addition, ergosterol content of the kernels from ears inoculated withF. graminearum was determined and theF. culmorum isolates were tested for mycotoxin productionin vitro. For both pathogens, isolates markedly differed in aggressiveness. 59% and 37% of theF. culmorum isolates produced NIV and DON, respectively,in vivo andin vitro. The DON-producing isolates also produced 3-acDONin vitro. The more aggressive isolates produced mainly DON while the less aggressive isolates produced mainly NIV. 12% and 85% of theF. graminearum isolates produced NIV and DON, respectively. The highly aggressive isolates produced higher amounts of DON, aggressiveness being highly correlated to DON content in the kernels. NIV-producing isolates were less aggressive. Ergosterol content of kernels was moderately correlated to aggressiveness but highly correlated to DON content. Disease severity was associated with kernel weight reduction.     

Distribution of trichothecene mycotoxins in maize ears infected withF. graminearum andF. crookwellense

Maize ears naturally infected withF. graminearum (6 samples) andF. crookwellense (6 samples) were collected in 1990 and 1991. All samples exhibited symptoms of severe ear rot with high percentage ofFusarium damaged kernels. Thousand kernels weight ranged 108.5 – 235.0g and was significantly lower than in control, not infested kernels (330g). All ears were contaminated withFusarium toxins but DON and NIV were the most frequently analyzed metabolites. Distribution of trichothecene mycotoxins in different parts of ear as well as toxicity of extracts toArtemia salina is reported in this paper.     

Fusarium species associated with banana fruit rot and their potential toxigenicity

Banana fruits exhibiting signs of decay were collected from markets in the United States and Italy. Fungi isolated from the lesions on the banana fruits wereFusarium moniliforme, F subglutinans, andF. semitectum var.majus. When the fungal strains were cultivated on maize kernels, the cultures did not produce zearalenone (ZON), zearalenols (á-, â-ZOH), and trichothecenes [deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON), T-2 toxin (T-2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS)]. Fumonisins and fusarin C (FUS-C) were not detected naturally nor in bananas purchased in the U.S. and artificially infected withFusarium. Moniliformin (M) (up to 267 mg/kg) was detected in maize kernel cultures ofF. subglutinans from bananas. No mycotoxins were detected in naturally infected fruits. Although no mycotoxins were detected in the extracts from corn cultures ofF. semitectum var.majus, the extracts were toxic to brine shrimp and mice.     

Immunochemical analysis of trichothecenes produced by various fusaria

The production of type A trichothecene mycotoxins by 19 Fusaria, including 12Fusarium sporotrichioides, 4F. chlamydosporum and 3F. graminearum at 15°C and 25°C over a 35-day period was analyzed by ELISA using antibodies cross-reactive with most type A trichothecenes after conversion to T-2 tetraol tetraacetate. The toxin production peaked at 20–25 days of incubation with maximum yield between 4–6 mg type A trichothecene/ml of culture medium for 5F. sporotrichioides cultures and between 1 to 2 mg/ml for 6F. sporotrichioides cultures. OneF. sporotrichioides produced 700 µg type A trichothecenes/ml of culture medium. Detectable type A trichothecene was also found in the culture extracts ofF. chlamydosporum andF. graminearum, but the yield was very low (less than 100 µg/ml). Quantitative determination of individual trichothecenes was achieved by separation of different toxin in HPLC and followed by ELISA analysis. Eight to 10 immunoreactive peaks, corresponding to various type A trichothecenes, were detected in all the fungal extracts. T-2 tetraol (T-2-4ol), 4-acetyl-T-2 tetraol (4-Ac-T-2-4ol), neosolaniol (NEOS), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), HT-2 and T-2 toxin accounted for more than 85% of the total toxins. In general, low temperature was preferred for total type A trichothecene production. More T-2-4ol, 4-Ac-T-2-4ol, HT-2 and DAS were produced at 25°C. In contrast, more T-2 toxin and NEOS were produced at 15°C. Transformation of T-2 toxin and NEOS to polar metabolites such as T-2-4ol, 4-acetyl-T-2-4ol and HT-2 by various strains were observed at both temperatures after 25 days incubation.     

Differences in susceptibility of winter wheat varieties for Fusarium species under Belgian growing conditions

Fusarium head blight is an important disease of cereal crops caused by Fusarium species. It causes not only a reduction in yield, but most Fusarium species (F. graminearum. F. culmorum, F. avenaceum. F. poae) produce also a range of toxic metabolites such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA). The evaluation of Fusarium species was followed up under natural infection conditions during the growing seasons 2001--2002 and 2002--2003 in two varietal winter wheat experiments on the experimental farm of the Hogeschool Gent at Bottelare. Disease pressure, DON and ZEA content, different Fusarium species as well as growth and yield parameters were determined. In both years there were significant differences between the varieties concerning the susceptibility to Fusarium and the DON content. ZEA was not found in the kernels. The mean deoxynivalenol (DON) content was in 2002 (1,126 mg/kg) higher than in 2003 (0.879 mg/kg) although the mean disease severity was bigger in 2003 than in 2002 what means that the DON content was not always correlated with the disease severity. The Fusarium species most frequently identified in our two field trials (Bottelare) were F. graminearum and F. culmorum Varietal differences in susceptibility to Fusarium species and DON contamination could be detected.     

Deoxynivalenol accumulation and other scab symptoms in six romanian wheat genotypes inoculated withFusarium graminearum

At anthesis, under field conditions at Fundulea, each of 6 Romanian winter wheat genotypes was inoculated with 3Fusarium graminearum isolates used individually.Fusarium head blight (FHB) was assessed according to the following traits: relative weight of spikes (RWS), percentage of Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK), relative weight of kernels per head (RWKH), area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) and deoxynivalenol (DON) content in total sample of kernels. Correlations between these traits and parameters revealed important differences between examined wheat genotypes in: DON accumulation, progress of FHB development, yield reduction, and models of host — pathogen interactions in theTriticum - Fusarium pathosystem. Significant correlations between different attributes of FHB were found forFusarium isolate 1 which is a moderate producer of DON (0.89 μg g^-1). Weight of spike was significantly correlated with weight of kernels per spike (r = 0.93**) and with percentage of damaged kernels (r = - 0.87**), while FDK was highly correlated with RWKH (r = - 0.85*) and with DON content (r = 0.82*). Area under the disease progress curve was also found to be significantly correlated with DON content (r = 0.86*).     

Biological detoxification of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol and its use in genetically engineered crops and feed additives

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the major mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi in grains. Food and feed contaminated with DON pose a health risk to humans and livestock. The risk can be reduced by enzymatic detoxification. Complete mineralization of DON by microbial cultures has rarely been observed and the activities turned out to be unstable. The detoxification of DON by reactions targeting its epoxide group or hydroxyl on carbon 3 is more feasible. Microbial strains that de-epoxidize DON under anaerobic conditions have been isolated from animal digestive system. Feed additives claimed to de-epoxidize trichothecenes enzymatically are on the market but their efficacy has been disputed. A new detoxification pathway leading to 3-oxo-DON and 3-epi-DON was discovered in taxonomically unrelated soil bacteria from three continents; the enzymes involved remain to be identified. Arabidopsis, tobacco, wheat, barley, and rice were engineered to acetylate DON on carbon 3. In wheat expressing DON acetylation activity, the increase in resistance against Fusarium head blight was only moderate. The Tri101 gene from Fusarium sporotrichioides was used; Fusarium graminearum enzyme which possesses higher activity towards DON would presumably be a better choice. Glycosylation of trichothecenes occurs in plants, contributing to the resistance of wheat to F. graminearum infection. Marker-assisted selection based on the trichothecene-3-O-glucosyltransferase gene can be used in breeding for resistance. Fungal acetyltransferases and plant glucosyltransferases targeting carbon 3 of trichothecenes remain promising candidates for engineering resistance against Fusarium head blight. Bacterial enzymes catalyzing oxidation, epimerization, and less likely de-epoxidation of DON may extend this list in future.     

Fusarium Head Blight Reactions and Accumulation of Deoxynivalenol (DON) and Some of its Derivatives in Kernels of Wheat, Triticale and Rye

Fifty-three commercially grown cultivars and germplasm lines of winter triticale (n = 18), wheat (n = 13), and rye (n = 5) and spring triticale (n = 8), wheat (n = 7) and rye (n = 2) were inoculated at mid anthesis with a spore suspension consisting of a mixture of Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium avenaceum and Fusarium graminearum isolates of known toxinogenic activity. Reactions to Fusarium head blight were measured as disease severity, reductions of kernel number/head, kernel weight/head and 1000 kernel weight, number of Fusarium-damaged kernels and kernel content of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its acetyl-derivatives 3-AcDON, 15-AcDON, and moniliformin. None of the cereal genotypes was completely resistant to Fusarium head blight. Wheat suffered from the largest kernel weight reductions, and accumulated the largest amounts of deoxynivalenol (up to 39.5 mg/kg) and 3AcDON (up to 6.0 mg/kg) in kernels. Deoxynivalenol was not detected in grain samples of winter rye cv. Dańkowskie Z?ote, and spring rye cv. Ludowe. 15-AcDON was only detected in genotypes of triticale, and 3AcDON only in a few genotypes of winter wheat and rye. Moniliformin was detected at low concentrations (up to 0.092 mg/kg) in kernels of some genotypes selected for the mycotoxin analysis. A moderately strong Pearson correlation was found between head blight severity parameters and the accumulation of deoxynivalenol and its derivatives in grain of the cereal genotypes studied. Fusarium head blight severity parameters were correlated with the percentage of Fusarium-damaged kernels and reductions of yield components. However, some head blight-susceptible genotypes realized their potential yields, but accumulated high levels of mycotoxins in kernels. Both Fusarium head blight resistant and susceptible genotypes of the three cereal species accumulated deoxynivalenol in kernels. This finding suggests that the system regulating deoxynivalenol accumulation may be independent of Fusarium head blight reaction.     

A genome-wide association study using international breeding-evaluation data identifies major loci affecting production traits and stature in the Brown Swiss cattle breed

Background

Fusarium graminearum sensu stricto (s.s.) is an ubiquitous pathogen of cereals. The economic impact of Fusarium head blight (FHB) is characterized by crop losses and mycotoxin contamination. Our objective was to associate SNP diversity within candidate genes with phenotypic traits. A total of 77 F. graminearum s.s. isolates was tested for severity of fungal infection (= aggressiveness) and deoxynivalenol (DON) production in an inoculated field experiment at two locations in each of two years. For seven genes known to control fungal growth (MetAP1, Erf2) or DON production (TRI1, TRI5, TRI6 TRI10 and TRI14) single nucleotides polymorphic sites (SNPs) were determined and evaluated for the extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD). Associations of SNPs with both phenotypic traits were tested using linear mixed models.

Results

Decay of LD was in most instances fast. Two neighboring SNPs in MetAP1 and one SNP in Erf2 were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with aggressiveness explaining proportions of genotypic variance (p _G ) of 25.6%, 0.5%, and 13.1%, respectively. One SNP in TRI1 was significantly associated with DON production (p _G = 4.4).

Conclusions

We argue that using the published sequence information of Fusarium graminearum as a template to amplify comparative sequence parts of candidate genes is an effective method to detect quantitative trait loci. Our findings underline the potential of candidate gene association mapping approaches to identify functional SNPs underlying aggressiveness and DON production for F. graminearum s.s populations.     

Fusarium sporotrichioides Sherb. and trichothecenes associated with Fusarium-ear rot of corn before harvest

Fusarium sporotrichioides was found to be the predominant fungus in approximately 2 % of corn ears damaged byFusarium species, before harvest during 1984 and 1985 in Poland. Concentrations of up to 1,714.9 mg/kg of total type-A trichothecenes (T-2 Toxin, HT-2 Toxin, Neosolaniol, T-2 Triol, and T-2 Tetraol) were found in hand-selected, heavily damaged kernels obtained fromF. sporotrichioides-molded ears.     

Reduced susceptibility to Fusarium head blight in Brachypodium distachyon through priming with the Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol

The fungal cereal pathogen Fusarium graminearum produces deoxynivalenol (DON) during infection. The mycotoxin DON is associated with Fusarium head blight (FHB), a disease that can cause vast grain losses. Whilst investigating the suitability of Brachypodium distachyon as a model for spreading resistance to F. graminearum, we unexpectedly discovered that DON pretreatment of spikelets could reduce susceptibility to FHB in this model grass. We started to analyse the cell wall changes in spikelets after infection with F. graminearum wild‐type and defined mutants: the DON‐deficient Δtri5 mutant and the DON‐producing lipase disruption mutant Δfgl1, both infecting only directly inoculated florets, and the mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase disruption mutant Δgpmk1, with strongly decreased virulence but intact DON production. At 14 days post‐inoculation, the glucose amounts in the non‐cellulosic cell wall fraction were only increased in spikelets infected with the DON‐producing strains wild‐type, Δfgl1 and Δgpmk1. Hence, we tested for DON‐induced cell wall changes in B. distachyon, which were most prominent at DON concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 ppb. To test the involvement of DON in defence priming, we pretreated spikelets with DON at a concentration of 1 ppm prior to F. graminearum wild‐type infection, which significantly reduced FHB disease symptoms. The analysis of cell wall composition and plant defence‐related gene expression after DON pretreatment and fungal infection suggested that DON‐induced priming of the spikelet tissue contributed to the reduced susceptibility to FHB.     

Contamination of freshly harvested maize kernels with<Emphasis Type="Underline">Fusarium</Emphasis> mycotoxins on Bihar state,India

Freshly harvested maize samples, collected from different fields of Bhagalpur during January-March, 1989, were analysed for the presence of Fusarium species and their toxins.F. moniliforme was most common followed byF. roseum,F. sporotrichioides,F. graminearum andF. equiseti. Different strains of these species produced zearalenone (11.2–28.2 μ/g), DON (0.3–2.9 μg/g) and T-2 (5.2–20.6 μg/g) toxins on mostrice medium. Fifteen per cent, out of 86 maize samples analysed, were found to be contaminated with various levels of above toxins, which occurred either alone or in groups. Toxin concentration in contaminated samples varied from 0.76–1.5 μg/g (ZEN), 0.41–202 μg/g (DON) and 0.55–2.92 μg/g (T-2).     

Microbiological and Sybr® Green real-time PCR detection of major Fusarium head blight pathogens on wheat ears

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by several Fusarium species is one of the most serious diseases affecting wheat throughout the world. The efficiency of microbiological assays and real-time PCR to quantify major FHB pathogens in wheat ears after inoculation with F. graminearum, F. culmorum, F. avenaceum and F. poae under greenhouse and field conditions were evaluated. The frequency of infected kernel, content of fungal biomass, disease severity and kernel weight were determined. To measure the fungal biomass an improved DNA extraction method and a Sybr® Green real-time PCR were developed. The Sybr® Green real-time PCR proved to be highly specific for individual detection of the species in a matrix including fungal and plant DNA. The effect of Fusarium infection on visible FHB severity, frequency of infected kernels and thousand-kernel mass (TKM) significantly depended on the Fusarium species/isolate. F. graminearum resulted in highest disease level, frequency of infected kernels, content of fungal biomass, and TKM reduction followed by F. culmorum, F. avenaceum and F. poae, respectively. The comparison of frequency and intensity of kernel colonization proved differences in aggressiveness and development of the fungi in the kernels. Only for F. graminearum, the most aggressive isolate, application of microbiological and real-time PCR assays gave similar results. For the other species, the intensity of kernel colonization was lower than expected from the frequency of infection.     

A study of the correlation between the amount of deoxynivalenol in grain of wheat and triticale and percentage of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> damaged kernels

The correlation between the amount of deoxynivalenol (DON) and the percentage ofFusarium damaged kernels (FDK) in samples of wheat and triticale was studied.Samples of naturally infected wheat grain, collected in 1986, 1987 and 1988 and of triticale collected in 1986 were used.Additionally, artificial inoculated wheat samples (10 genotypes inoculated with 3F. Culmorum strains of weak, medium and severe pathogenicity and samples of 10 triticale genotypes inoculated withF. culmorum. andF. graminearun) were studied. Using statistical methods (the variance analysis, method of least significant difference (LSD), orthogonal contrast (OC) and minimum within groups sum of squares criterion (MSSC)), the samples were divided into two groups with respect to the attribute DON/FDK.To the first group belong samples of wheat and triticale, of which the heads were artificially inoculated with severely pathogenic strainsF. culmorum. In the samples of this group the amount of DON in kernels damaged withFusarium increased by 0,46 mg/kg per 1% of FDK.In the second group, consisting of naturally infected samples and samples from artificially inoculated heads the amount of DON increased 0,30 mg DON/kg per 1% of FDK.The equation for the calculation of approximated amount of DON in farm and commercial lots of wheat and triticale after examination of percentage of FDK is given.     

Cumulation of mycotoxins in maize cobs infected with<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium gramihearum</Emphasis>

Maize cobs withFusarium ear rot were collected at 1986 season and five infected byFusarium graminearum were analyzed for presence of triohothecenes and zearalenone. Collected material was subsampled forFusarium damaged kernels and corresponding axial stems and healthy looking kernels. All investigated cobs contained deoxynivalenol (DON) (range 18.0–131.5 mg/kg) and zearalenone (ZEA) (range 0.38–2.17 mg/kg), in four cobs 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-AcDON) (range 5.2–6.2 mg/kg) was present and two cobs besides three all metabolites contained 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-AcD0N) (range 0.5–0.8 mg/kg).The average of individual toxins amount in axial stems: in mg/kg was equal to: DON — 110.36, ZEA — 4.57, 15-AcD0N — 16.66, and 3-AcD0N — 1.32.Fusarium damaged kernels contained in average the following amount (mg/kg) of: DON 77.00, ZEA 0.98, 15-AcD0N 3.78 and 3-AcD0N 0.06. Healthy looking kernels contained DON 1.96 mg/kg and ZEA 0.07 mg/kg only. Cooccurrence of 3-AcDON and 15-AcDON in two samples was an interesting finding. The amount of DON in total cob was highly correlated (r = 0.94) with percentage ofFusarium damaged kernels in given ear.     

Fusarium species and their mycotoxins in infected corn in Italy

Surveys of corn (infected plants and commercial kernels) forFusarium species and their mycotoxins were carried out on samples collected all over Italy and from some European and mediterranean countries.Investigations on samples of corn stalk and ear rot standing in the field, mainly collected in southern Italy, proved to be contaminated with zearalenone (ZON), zearalenols (ZOL), and deoxynivalenol (DON). TheFusarium species most frequently isolated, and their recorded toxigenic capability (in parentheses), were:F. moniliforme;F. culmorum (ZON, ZOL, DON, 3AcDON);F. equiseti (ZON, ZOL); andF. proliferatum (MF). Along with these species,F. graminearum group 2 (ZON, DON and/or 3AcDON or 15AcDON);F. chlamydosporum;F. acuminatum (type-A trichothecene derivatives); andF. semitectum were often found to be associated.F. heterosporum (ZON, ZOL);F. solani;F. crookwellense (ZON, ZOL, FUS, NIV);F. oxysporum (MF);F. avenaceum (MF);F. sporotrichioides (T-2 toxin and derivatives); andF. poae (DAS, MAS) were occasionally isolated.     

Response of Barley Genotypes to Fusarium Head Blight under Natural Infection and Artificial Inoculation Conditions

Forty-eight spring barley genotypes were evaluated for deoxynivalenol (DON) concentration under natural infection across 5 years at Harrington, Prince Edward Island. These genotypes were also evaluated for Fusarium head blight (FHB) severity and DON concentration under field nurseries with artificial inoculation of Fusarium graminearum by the grain spawn method across 2 years at Ottawa, Ontario, and one year at Hangzhou, China. Additionally, these genotypes were also evaluated for FHB severity under greenhouse conditions with artificial inoculation of F. graminearum by conidial suspension spray method across 3 years at Ottawa, Ontario. The objective of the study was to investigate if reactions of barley genotypes to artificial FHB inoculation correlate with reactions to natural FHB infection. DON concentration under natural infection was positively correlated with DON concentration (r = 0.47, P < 0.01) and FHB incidence (r = 0.56, P < 0.01) in the artificially inoculated nursery with grain spawn method. Therefore, the grain spawn method can be used to effectively screen for low DON. FHB severity, generated from greenhouse spray, however, was not correlated with DON concentration (r = 0.12, P > 0.05) under natural infection and it was not correlated with DON concentration (r = −0.23, P > 0.05) and FHB incidence (r = 0.19, P > 0.05) in the artificially inoculated nursery with grain spawn method. FHB severity, DON concentration, and yield were affected by year, genotype, and the genotype × year interaction. The effectiveness of greenhouse spray inoculation for indirect selection for low DON concentration requires further studies. Nine of the 48 genotypes were found to contain low DON under natural infection. Island barley had low DON and also had high yield.     

Effects of Fusarium culmorum head blight on mycotoxin accumulation and yield traits in barley doubled haploids

The susceptibility of barley doubled haploids (DH) to Fusarium head blight (FHB) was investigated. Heads of 24 DH lines (11 two-rowed and 13 six-rowed) derived from F₁ Maresi (two-rowed) × Pomo (six-rowed) hybrids were inoculated with a conidial suspension of the single isolate IPO348-01 of Fusarium culmorum. The experiment was carried out in three consecutive years (1996–98) in one location. The number of kernels per ear, 1000-kernel weight and kernel weight per ear were recorded in inoculated and control plots. In the infected kernels nivalenol (NIV) content and deoxynivalenol (DON) content were determined. The effects of genotype, year and genotype-year interaction on reduction of yield traits were significant. For mycotoxin content only genotype and year effects were found to be important. The average NIV concentration in kernels of inoculated lines ranged from 0.15 mg/kg in the two-rowed line MP7 to 6.36 mg/kg in the six-rowed line MP113. A low accumulation of DON was observed in the studied population (from 0.01 to 0.20 mg/kg). Generally, no significant differences in mycotoxin content were found between two-rowed and six-rowed genotypes. The line MP7 was found to be superior — with the lowest mycotoxin accumulation, and reduction in yield traits. Environmental conditions (years) affected DON and NIV level in kernels; however, the tendency to a lower or higher accumulation of mycotoxin in individual lines was stable over the years.