Analysis of Fusarium Toxins in Single Barley Malt Kernels

Fusarium infestation of barley and other cereals can result in red mycelium and is often accompanied by mycotoxin contamination. Visual assessment and rejection of malt batches that contain more than 5–7 relevant red kernels are so far common tools in the malting and brewing industry to guarantee high-quality malt and beer. Conspicuous single barley malt kernels were collected from naturally contaminated barley cultivars (Grace, Quench, and Malwinta) as well as from barley varieties (Grace, Quench, and Scarlett) inoculated with three different Fusarium species (Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum, and Fusarium avenaceum). A recently published multi-mycotoxin LC–MS/MS method was altered slightly and used for the analysis of Fusarium toxins of each kernel. The comparison of the contamination level with the degree of discoloration revealed only limited correlations. It seems that the visual assessment of the red mycelium of single kernels is particularly sensitive towards the occurrence of enniatins and might neglect that of other mycotoxins.