Incidence of Fusarium and other Molds in Korean Field Crops

The incidence of total molds, Fusarium species, and the estrogenic mycotoxin,zearalenone, in Korean grain samples were investigated . The majority of molds infecting grain were identified as belonging to the genus Alternaria , with an average infection rate of kernels of 43% and 32% in rice and baley, respectively. Fusarium speciens were less common, with average infection rates of 13% and 19% in reice and barley, respectively. A number of field fungi including Curvularia and Dactylaria were also observed. Among the Fusarium speices, 71 of 94 Fusarium isolates were identified as F.semitectum. A few F. moniliforme and F. equiseti were observed linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). In addition, deoxynivalenol was not deteted by ELISA . However, thepresence of molds, including Fusarium species, may pose possbile health hazards to persons consuming those grains.