Influence of Different Storage Conditions on the Mycotoxin Production and Quality of Fusarium-Infected Wheat Grain

Wheat seed samples with different initial infection levels of Fusarium culmorum were kept under different storage conditions for 36 weeks. Samples for analysis were drawn before storage and at intervals of 6‐8 weeks to determine the mycotoxin contents, seed health and seed quality. Zearalcnone (ZEA) accumulated to higher kernel contents towards the end of storage, when the seed was stored under warm and humid conditions [25°C/90% relative humidity (RH)], whereas the deoxynivalenol (DON) content of severely infected kernel samples (> 50%) remained unchanged under any of the conditions. On the other hand, DON contents increased in samples with a slight (4%) or moderate (15%) Fusarium infection level. when the seed was stored under Warm and humid conditions. Nivalenol (NIV) was not found in any samples immediately after harvest but later on in storage, and only under cool or warm but very humid conditions (15°C/84% RH and 25°C/90% RH). During storage, the mycotoxin contents of the samples did not reflect the percentage of Fusarium infected kernels. Under warm but dry conditions (25°C/62% RH) the seed germination rate showed a slight increase or remained nearly constant; at the same time the Fusarium infection level of the kernels decreased fairly fast. Cool and dry conditions (15°C/56% RH) maintained good seed quality but the Fusarium infection level of the kernels remained largely the same. Warm and humid conditions are not appropriate to maintaining quality of both seed and grain product.