Changes in hygienic and technological wheat quality caused by mould infection

Abstract

The consequences of field mould attack, especially of Fusarium spp. but also Allernaria spp. are yield losses and a significant decrease in technological wheat quality that can go so far as to render its useless for processing. The aim of this work was to highlight field moulds as one of the causes of decreases in technological quality in Yugoslavia in the last two years to experts and a scientific public. In some localities where harvest was investigated every year, a significant contamination by these microorganisms was registered. Beside visual evaluation that statement was confirmed by mycological and tox:cological analyses as well. By comparing the results of infected samples with those at the localities where there were no severe mould infections, a significant decrease in total technolog cal wheat quality was proved, which caused also the impossibility of bread production out of such kinds of wheat.