Between 2013 and 2015, 325 samples of commercially grown oats were collected in Switzerland along with data
on respective cropping factors. The incidence of different Fusarium species was determined using a seed health
test and quantitative PCR was used to measure the amount of F. poae and F. langsethiae DNA. Mycotoxins were
quantified by LC–MS/MS. Among all Fusarium species, F. poae was found to be dominant whereas T-2/HT-2
toxins were the major mycotoxins. Samples from fields with the previous crop cereal showed the highest concentrations
of T-2/HT-2. Higher amounts of nivalenol (NIV) and T-2/HT-2 were detected in samples from fields
with reduced tillage compared with samples from ploughed fields. Furthermore, we observed a higher contamination
with NIV and T-2/HT-2 in winter sown varieties compared with spring sown varieties. Results from
the current study are highly valuable to develop recommendations for optimised cropping systems that reduce
the risk of mycotoxin contamination of oat grains.