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

Whea t seed samples with diflʹe rcllt initia l infection levels of Fusarium cU/11lorwlI were kept under difleren t storage conditions for 36 weeks. Samples for ana lys is were drawn before storage and at interva ls of6-8 weeks to determine the mycotoxin contents. seed hea lth and seed qualit y. Zea ra [enone (ZEA) accumul ated to higher kernel contents LOwards th e end of storage. when lhc seed was stored under warm and humid conditions [25 Cj90% re[a li ve humidi ty (RH)]. whereas the deoxynivalenol (DON) conlent or severely inrected kernel samples (> 50%) remained uncha nged under a ny of the conditions. On the Other hand, DON contents increased in samples with a slight (40 / 0 ) or moderate ( 15%) Fusarium infection level. when the seed was stored under warm and humid condilio ns, Nivalenol (NIV) was not ro und in any samples immedia tely after harvest but later on in sto rage, and only Li nder cool or warm but ve ry humid co nditi ons ( [5 Cj84% RH and 25 Cj90% RH). During sto rage. the mycotoxin co ntents of the sa mples did no t reHect the percentage of Fusarium infected kernels. Under warm but dry co nditions (25 C/62% RH) the seed germin a tion rate showed a sljght increase or remained nea rly constal1l; a t the same time the FusariulII infection level of" the kernels decreased ra ir[y rast. Cool and dry conditi ons ( [ 5 ʹCf56% RJ-I ) maintai ned good seed qua lity but thc FlIstlril.lll/ infection level of the kernels rema ined largely the same. Warm and humid conditions are not appropria te to maintaini ng quality or both seed and grain prod uct