Assessment of variation of HT-2 and T-2 fusarium mycotoxins in UK oat varieties (2021–27)

Fusarium langsethiae is the main fusarium species that infects oats. It causes fusarium head blight (FHB) and produces HT-2 and T-2 mycotoxins.

Although these mycotoxins remain during storage (they do not increase), they are significantly reduced during processing (dehulling) and surveys show that exposure to these toxins from oat products in the UK diet is very low.

However, in 2024, the European Commission set a legal limit for the maximum combined level of T-2 and HT-2 of 1,250 ppb in unprocessed oats (with husk), which applies to EU Member States and Northern Ireland.

Although there are no legal or indicative limits for T-2 and HT-2 in Great Britain, it is important to understand the risk of oat crops exceeding these limits and to prepare for potential new legislation.

Previous studies show varietal differences in combined HT-2 and T-2 concentrations, which are typically higher (with greater variability) in winter oats than in spring oats.

This project will quantify the HT-2 and T-2 content of samples from all spring oat and winter oat varieties in the AHDB Recommended Lists (RL) trials for six harvest years.

It will generate data on the variation in HT-2 and T-2 concentrations in commercial oat varieties, which will ultimately help guide variety choice, as part of an integrated strategy to manage mycotoxin risks.

*Combined costs for the initial harvests 2021 to 2023 project (£33,406.81) and the harvests 2024 to 2026 extension (£47,602.56).