?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=https%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2Fid%2Feprint%2F21%2F&rft.title=Ecology+of+the+ochratoxin+A+producing+Penicillium+verrucosum%3A+Occurrence+in+field+soil+and+grain+with+special+attention+to+farming+system+and+on-farm+drying+practices&rft.creator=Elmholt%2C+Susanne&rft.subject=Crop+health%2C+quality%2C+protection&rft.subject=+Food+security%2C+food+quality+and+human+health&rft.subject=%22Organics%22+in+general&rft.subject=+Farming+Systems&rft.subject=+Production+systems&rft.subject=+Soil+biology&rft.description=Mycotoxin+contamination+of+organically+grown+cereals+has+been+a+growing+concern+during+recent+years%2C+one+of+the+most+important+being+ochratoxin+A+(OTA).+In+countries+with+a+temperate%2C+humid+climate%2C+OTA+is+produced+by+Penicillium+verrucosum+and+it+is+crucial+to+focus+on+the+fungus+to+obviate+problems.+This+paper+presents+results+to+elucidate+different+aspects+of+the+ecology+of+P.+verrucosum.+In+a+survey+of+differently+farmed+soils%2C+P.+verrucosum+was+found+in+11+out+of++65+soils+(35%25+of+the+organically+and+7%25+of+the+conventionally+cultivated)%2C+these+being+the+first+reports+of+its+natural+occurrence+in+soil.+Except+for+two+soils+it+was+found+with+low+frequencies+(100-300+cfu+g+dry+soil-1)%2C+and+the+results+point+to+home+grown+seed+as+a+potential+risk+of+soil+contamination.+In+a+survey+of+organically+grown+grain%2C+P.+verrucosum+was+found+in+51%25+of+the+recently+combined+and+not+yet+dried+grain+samples+(60%25+of+the+rye+and+53%25+of+the+wheat+samples).+This+confirms+that+early+contamination+does+take+place+and+increases+the+demand+for+proper+grain+handling+during+drying+and+storage.+Three+case+studies+were+performed+at+organic+farms+with+different+storage+facilities.+The+results+showed+very+clearly+that+there+is+no+general+risk+of+OTA+contamination+in+organically+cultivated+grain.+Within+the+same+year%2C+major+differences+between+the+farms+were+found+and+these+differences+were+reproduced+during+three+growing+seasons.+It+therefore+seems+likely+that+an+organic+farming+system%2C+as+such%2C+does+not+present+problems+in+relation+to+OTA+contamination.+It+is%2C+rather%2C+certain+management+practices+that+are+inappropriate+and+these+management+practices+may+be+more+prevalent+in+organic+farming.+This+assumption+is+discussed+in+relation+to+home+grown+seed%2C+crop+rotation%2C+organic+fertilizers%2C+exclusion+of+pesticides%2C+and+drying+and+storage+facilities.&rft.date=2003&rft.type=Journal+paper&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=%2Fid%2Feprint%2F21%2F1%2F21.pdf&rft.identifier=+++Elmholt%2C+Susanne+++(2003)+Ecology+of+the+ochratoxin+A+producing+Penicillium+verrucosum%3A+Occurrence+in+field+soil+and+grain+with+special+attention+to+farming+system+and+on-farm+drying+practices.+++Biological+Agriculture+and+Horticulture%2C+20%2C+pp.+311-337.++++++++