ALTERNARIA TOXINS IN WEATHER-DAMAGED WHEAT AND SORGHUM IN THE 1995-1996 AUSTRALIAN HARVEST

Weather-damaged wheat from northern New South Wales in 1995-96 was hea vily infected with the fungus Alternaria alternata. The mycotoxins ten uazonic acid, alternariol, and alternariol monomethyl ether were detec ted at low levels which corresponded with the degree of A. alternata i nfection and the geographical location. Sorghum and undamaged wheat fr om the same region also showed moderate levels of A. alternata infecti on and low levels of tenuazonic acid but none of the other toxins. The se mycotoxins were not found in weather-damaged wheat from other areas of Australia where the primary infection was by A. infectoria rather than A. alternata.