Zearalenone-producing species of Fusarium on barley seed

Isolates of Fusarium were obtained from samples of barley grain at harvest in 1971, 1973 and 1974. The ability of these isolates to produce the myco-toxin zearalenone was examined, the grain also being tested for its presence in 1974. The most common isolate was F. culmorum, 60% of which in 1974 produced zearalenone. Other species isolated which produced this myco-toxin were F. monilijorme, F. graminearum, F. avenaceum, F. nivale and F. sambucinum var coeruleum, the last three species have not previously been recorded as producing zearalenone.