*3.1. Fungal Colony Counts on Wheat Grain*

Five pathogenic species of the genus *Fusarium* (*F. culmorum*, *F. poae*, *F. graminearum*, *F. avenaceum* and *F. solani*), species of the genus *Alternaria* (*Alternaria* sect. *alternata* and *Alternaria* sect. *infectoriae*) and, sporadically, *Pyrenophora- tritici-repentis* and *Rhizoctonia cerealis* were isolated from wheat grain (Table 4). The CFUs of epiphytic *Alternaria* spp. were significantly higher in nearly all grain samples (excluding grain from treatments fertilized with SP60, Rec60, and Rec80) relative to control grain (C0) where the above pathogen was not detected. The colony counts of Alternaria spp. were highest in wheat kernels from treatments supplied with the biofertilizer (Bio40). *Fusarium culmorum* and

*F. graminearum* were detected in eight out of the 10 analyzed grain samples. *Fusarium culmorum* was the predominant species in treatments with the highest rate of the commercial fertilizer. The colony counts of *F. graminearum* were significantly higher in treatments supplied with the biofertilizer (Bio40, 60, and 80), Rec80, and SP60 than in the control treatment. The pathogenic species *P. tritici-repentis* and *R. cerealis* were identified only in the Bio80 treatment.


**Table 4.** Pathogens contaminating wheat grain.

<sup>1</sup> *Pyrenophora tritici-repentis*, *Rhizoctonia cerealis*. Values in columns that did not differ significantly in the Newman–Keuls test (*p* < 0.01) are marked with identical letters; values not marked with letters do not differ significantly (abbreviations are explained in Table 1).

The most prevalent non-pathogenic fungi were yeasts (2.34–2.87 Log(CFU + 1)) and *Mycosphaerella tassiana* (2.05–2.71 Log(CFU + 1)) (Table 5). Yeast counts were significantly higher on grain harvested from treatments fertilized with Bio40 and Bio80 in comparison with the SP80 treatment. Species of the genus *Acremonium* were also relatively abundant in all analyzed grain samples. The colony counts of *Penicillium* spp. were significantly higher in treatment SP80 than in the control treatment (C0). The method of isolation from non-disinfected grains allowed to detect huge yeast communities and six species of pathogenic fungi.


**Table 5.** Non-pathogenic fungi colonizing wheat grain.

Values in columns that did not differ significantly in the Newman–Keuls test (*p* < 0.01) are marked with identical letters; values not marked with letters do not differ significantly (abbreviations are explained in Table 1).
