[Alternaria infestation of corn silage and hay]

The numbers of fungi and the portions of Alternaria species in silage maize before harvesting and in hay stored were determined. Alternaria is present in growing maize with 18.3 percent of the total numbers of fungi. It occurs mainly on leaves and husks. Fungi of the genus Alternaria also were found in hay, that has been stored for 8 months when total numbers of fungi have been decreased slowly. More than 80 percent of all Alternaria strains isolated were determined systematically as Alternaria alternata Fries (Keissler) and A. tenuissima (Kunze:Fr.) Wiltshire. Based on these results there is discussed the potential hazard of a contamination of the roughages with Alternaria mycotoxins.