Diminution of mycotoxins from Fusarium sp. in barley and wheat through post-harvest processing methods

The objective of this study was to analyze mycotoxin contents in Korean barley and wheat infected with Fusarium sp. The major contaminant was determine among deoxynivalenol, nivalenol (NIV), and zearalenone, as well as diminution rate of mycotoxin contents by milling, washing, and boiling processes. NIV was found as a major mycotoxin contaminant in Korean barley and wheat, and bran showed higher contamination level than the inner part in whole infected cereal. The results indicate that the milling process of the diseased barley and wheat showed dramatic diminution rate of 84.4%. Furthermore, the washing on barley reduced mycotoxin infection up to 81.0%, and boiling showed 82.7% diminution effect.