The concentration of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) of 80 cereal
grain samples of the German harvest 1995 was investigated. In addition
to this, the total as well as the inherent mycoflora of two winter wh
eat and two winter rye brands which showed the highest EPS-concentrati
on was detected on maltsalt agar (NaCl 5%). Surface disinfection with
1% NaOCl for the determination of the internal mycoflora caused a sign
ificant reduction in number and bind of fungi. However, the mycoflora
of all samples was dominated by fungi of the genera Alternaria spp. an
d Cladosporium spp., Aureobasidium pullulans, Fusarium spp. and Epicoc
cum purpurascens (in decreasing order) occurred to a minor extent. A p
ossible contamination of the cereal grains with mycotoxins of Alternar
ia and Cladosporium is discussed.