The internal microflora of wheat grains in Western Australia

Abstract

The microflora of 568 samples of surface sterilized wheat grains, harvested in 1963-64 and 1964-65 in Western Australia, were examined. Alternaria spp, were the most commonly isolated organisms, being present in 17.7 per cent of all grain and 98.7 per cent of all samples over the two years. The frequency of occurrence was not related to grain discolouration. Of the remaining organisms, Helminthosporium sativum, Fusarium spp., Podosporiella vertillata, and Septoria nodorum are known to be pathogenic to wheat. H. sativum and Fusarium spp. were isolated only in trace amounts in the grain and in few samples, whereas P. verticillata and S. nodorum occurred in 1.86 and 3.40 per cent respectively of all grain and 39.92 and 70.57 per cent respectively of all samples. Pithomyes chartarum, the organism causing facial eczema in animals, was isolated once from each of two grain samples.