Lugauskas A, Raila A, Railiene M, Raudoniene V: Toxic micromycetes in grain raw material during its processing. Ann Agric Environ Med 2006, 13, 147-161.

Abstract: In 2003–2005 micromycetes were isolated and identified from wheat, barley, rye, buckwheat grain brought into mills or from processing enterprises. Contamination of the produced flour with micromycete propagules (cfu g^-1), changes in micromycete diversity and abundance in the course of flour storage, preparation and baking of bread, production of groats or other food products and fodder were determined. Most attention was given to widely distributed micromycetes, known producers of toxins: Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus candidus, A. clavatus, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. oryzae, A. (=Eurotium) repens, Fusarium culmorum, F. equiseti, F. graminearum, F. moniliforme, F. oxysporum, F. poae, F. sporotrichioides, Penicillium brevicompactum, P. chrysogenum, P. cyclopium, P. daleae, P. expansum, P. funiculosum, P. roqueforti, P. urticae, P. verruculosum, P. viridicatum, Phoma exiqua, Rhizomucor pusillus, Rhizopus stolonifer, Trichothecium roseum. Abilities of these micromycetes to produce secondary toxic metabolites were determined as well as possible hazard caused to people consuming the contaminated products.

Address for correspondence: Prof. dr. habil. Albinas Lugauskas, Institute of Botany, Zaliuju ezeru 49, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania.
E-mail: lugauskas@botanika.lt

Key words: cereal grain, fungi, mycotoxins, foodstuff, security, health.