Norwegian grain samples (73 oats, 75 barley, 83 wheat) from the 2000-02 growing seasons were examined for contamination with
moniliformin, and the association between the fungal metabolite and the number of kernels infected with common Fusaria was investigated. Before quantification of
moniliformin using ion pairing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array ultraviolet light detection, all samples were extracted using
acetonitrile/water (84/16) and disposable strong
anion exchange columns used for clean up. The limit of detection was 40 microg kg(-1).
Moniliformin was found in 25, 32 and 76% of the barley, oats and wheat samples, respectively. The maximum concentrations of
moniliformin in barley, oats and wheat were 380, 210 and 950 microg kg(-1), respectively. At the same time, the prevalence and
infection level of the
moniliformin-producing F. avenaceum/arthrosporioides was as high as 100 and >53% on average, respectively.
Moniliformin concentrations were significantly correlated to the variables grain species, growing season and
infection with F. avenaceum/arthrosporioides and F. culmorum. The survey indicates that the prevalence of
moniliformin in Norwegian grain is high, especially in wheat. On the other hand, field conditions in Norway do not seem to favour contamination of grain with high levels of
moniliformin.