The effect of molds, their volatile organic compounds, and mycotoxins on cereal grain quality
Rimvydas Falkauskas, Baliukonienė, Violeta,, Jovaišienė, Jurgita,, Laura Knizikevičiūtė
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Abstract
Cereal grains are one of the most used raw materials in the food industry. According to statistical data, the highest global production volumes are recorded for maize (1116.34 million tons) and wheat (764.49 million tons). In addition to these major cereal crops, barley, oats, and rye are also in high demand. Therefore, efforts are focused on producing high-quality and safe raw materials for use in the food and feed industries. This study evaluates the impact of molds, their volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and mycotoxins on the qualitative indicators of wheat, barley, triticale, oat, and rye during storage. Grain samples were collected from a farm in Pasvalys district in September, February, and July. Total mold contamination (CFU/g) was determined, and mycotoxins (AFB1 , ZEA, DON, OTA,