Natural occurrence of mycotoxins in cereals

Besides peanuts and cottonseed, cereal grains are the most important feed and food source that occasionally are naturally contaminated with mycotoxins. The problem of mycotoxins occurring naturally in cereals, especially in corn, has become trouble-some because of changing agricultural technology. The mycotoxin problem in cereals is not restricted to any geographic or climatic region. Toxins are produced on cereals, both in the field and in storage; they involve both the grain and the whole plant. The genera of fungi most involved areAspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium andClaviceps. Mycotoxins known to occur naturally in cereals include aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂-as well as aflatoxins M₁ and M₂-ochratoxins A and B, penicillic acid, patulin, ergot, zearalenone, citrinin, T-2, tenuazonic acid, kojic acid and sterigmatocystin. Of these mycotoxins, aflatoxins, patulin, penicillic acid and sterigmatocystin are carcinogens.