Strategies to Minimise Fusarium Infections and Mycotoxin Pollution of Cereals

The Austrian Monitoring results for mycotoxins from cereals exhibit in genereal a higher susceptibility of durum, wheat and triticale in comparison with barley, rye and oats.
In general, higher mycotoxin contents are found in maize, which is mostly used as component for feedstuffs.
About 3% of the cereal samples exceed the maximum level of the Regulation (EC 856/2005, EC 1126/2007), but the risk factors in cultivation and crop management are evident. Especially after maize and conservation tillage practices without ploughing, an enormous infection potential exists. The main risk factors are weather conditions at flowering, therefore maximum levels may be exceeded in all regions. At locations, where the maximum levels are exceeded, previous crop was mostly maize (80%). In case of reduced or no tillage probably 12,5% of the locations will exceed maximum levels, when chisel plough is used 3% and with ploughing only 1% are concerned.