Fusarium species are among the most studied plant-pathogenic fungi, with several species causing diseases on maize, wheat, barley, and other food and feed grains. Additionally, Fusarium species produce a diverse array of mycotoxins. The most important Fusarium mycotoxins contaminating cereals are fumonisins (FMs), zearalenone (ZEA) and trichothecenes such as deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2 and HT-2 toxins. These fungal metabolites are usually related to esophageal cancer, oestrogenic activity or gastrointestinal problems, DNA and RNA fragmentation and protein synthesis inhibition in both humans and animals.

Barley is one of the most important Spanish crops representing up to 40% of the total cereal production. In this work, the presence of FMs, ZEA, DON, NIV, and HT-2/ T-2 was determined in barley grown in Spain by optimized analytical methods. The results obtained were compared with the presence of mycotoxigenic species considered responsible for their synthesis. These mycotoxins were detected in 34%, 38%, 72% 17% and 10% of the barley selected samples, respectively, at levels below European Union limits in all cases. However, the co-occurrence of different toxins in some samples suggested that synergistic activity of these mycotoxins should be evaluated. Moreover, this is the first report on the presence of fumonisins in barley in Spain.

Acknowledgements. The authors acknowledge financial support from FEDER and Spanish Government (Project AGL2010-22182-C04-01-03/ALI) and from Generalitat Valenciana (ACOMP/2013/176) and Project P1.1B2012-36 del Pla de Promoció de la Investigació de la Universitat Jaume I.