*3.3. Characteristic of Seed Germination*

Sowing quality of seeds from conventional field was significantly higher than those from organic one were (Table 4). The mean value for the germination energy for the conventional seeds was much higher (87%) than for the organic seeds (63.2%). Similar was found for the germination capacity. In organic seed material lower percent's share of normal seedlings, but higher number of abnormal seedlings, dead seeds and fresh ungerminated seeds was observed.


**Table 4.** Germination characteristic of 30 wheat cultivars grown in conventional and organic field.

Values within the same column followed by the different letters are significantly different at the level of probability \*\*\* *p* < 0.001 or \*\* *p* < 0.01.

Values of the germination energy ranged from 54.0% ('Mewa') to 98.0% ('Nateja') in conventional samples and from 11.5% ('Belenus') to 93.0% ('Mewa') in organic samples (Table S4). The germination capacity ranged from 83.5% ('Slade') to 98.5% ('Nateja') in conventional material and from 75.0% ('Belenus') to 96.0% ('Batuta') in organic material. The percent shares of abnormal seedlings as well as dead seeds were significantly higher in organic samples (Table 4). These variables ranged from 0.5% ('Markiza') to 8.5% ('Alcazar', 'Garantus') and from 0.5% ('Batuta') to 15.0% ('Belenus') in organic field and 0 ('Figura', 'Belenus') to 7.5% ('Mewa', 'Ostroga', 'Slade') and from 0 ('Batuta', 'Nateja') to 7.5% ('Jenga') in conventional field. Additionally, percentage of fresh, ungerminated seeds was twice higher in organic material than in conventional. However, difference was not significant. It was the highest in organic seed material of cultivars 'Belenus' (7.5%), 'Akteur' (6.0%), and 'Ostroga' (5.0%).

### *3.4. Concentration of Ergosterol and Trichothecenes*

Concentration of ergosterol in grain was significantly higher in samples from organic field than from conventional one (Table 5). Level of ERG varied from 0.26 ('Ostka Strzelecka') to 1.85 mg kg−<sup>1</sup> ('Mulan') in conventional field and from 0.26 ('Boomer') to 3.46 mg kg−<sup>1</sup> ('Akteur') in organic field (Table S4).

Amount of type B trichothecenes was low and varied from 8.9 to 460.2 μg kg−<sup>1</sup> in conventional field and from 10.1 to 384.5 μg kg−<sup>1</sup> in organic field (Table 5). On average, more trichothecenes were present in grain from conventional field; however, difference was statistically insignificant. Regarding specific toxins, only concentration of 3-AcDON was significantly higher in conventional samples. Concentration of NIV was higher in samples from organic field; however, difference was not significant. Distributions for FUS-X and 3-AcDON in organic and conventional samples were significantly different. In conventional samples, these toxins were detected in higher amounts in single samples whereas they were more evenly distributed in organic samples.


**Table 5.** Concentrations of ergosterol (mg kg−1) and type B trichothecenes (μg kg−1) in grain of 30 wheat cultivars grown in conventional and organic fields.

Values within the same column followed by the different letters are significantly different at the level of probability \*\*\* *p* < 0.001 or \*\* *p* < 0.01. ERG—ergosterol; DON—deoxynivalenol; FUS-X—fusarenon X; 3-AcDON—3-acetyldeoxynivalenol; 15-AcDON—15-acetyldeoxynivalenol; NIV—nivalenol; Total TCT B— total type B trichothecenes concentrations.

The highest concentrations of type B trichothecenes were found in grain of cultivars 'Anthus', 'Ostroga', and 'Garantus' in conventional field (460.2 μg kg−1, 321.1 μg kg−1, 308.9 μg kg−1, respectively) and in grain of 'Alcazar', 'Kampana', 'Muszelka' and 'Anthus' (384.5 μg kg−1, 278. μg kg−1, 257.6 μg kg−1, 244.6 μg kg−1, respectively) in organic field (Table S5).

Amount of type A trichothecenes was very low and similar in conventional and organic samples (5.5 and 5.1 μg kg−1, respectively) (Table S6). It varied from 0.7 ('Boomer') to 30.5 μg kg−<sup>1</sup> ('Garantus') in conventional samples and from 1.0 ('Figura') to 14.5 μg kg−<sup>1</sup> ('Zyta') in organic samples. Average concentrations of type A trichothecenes were similar in both groups, and they not differ significantly. Only average concentration of DAS was significantly higher in conventional samples.
