[Toxin production by Fusarium species and occurrence of the toxins in agricultural products].

In rainy autumnal weather and unfavourable storage conditions, certain agricultural products may be severely infested with Fusarium species also in Hungary. Since 1970 the authors have detected more than 200 Fusarium infestations in maize, wheat and mixed fodder. The Fusarium toxins were detected thin-layer chromatographically after extraction with chloroform and purification by means of solumn chromatography. Apart from F-2 (zearalenone) which is the most frequent toxin, other ultraviolet active toxic compounds were disclosed. Of the latter, the compounds F-3 and F-4 were isolated; their infra-red spectra were determined. From the results obtained, it may be concluded that these compounds have structures which resemble that of zearalenone and that they produce toxic effects.