Prevalence and levels of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in commercial barley and wheat grain produced in Southern Brazil: an eight-year (2008 to 2015) summary

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused mainly by Fusarium graminearum, is one of the most important diseases of barley and wheat in Brazil. The disease causes yield losses and contaminates grain with mycotoxins produced by the fungus, mainly deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA). The objective of this study was to summarize the results of 16,487 analyses of DON and ZEA in barley and wheat commercial grain produced in Brazil from 2008 to 2015 using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. For barley, DON and ZEA were detected in 67% and 41% of the samples, respectively, but 19% and 18% were above the maximum tolerated limits (MTL = 1250 μg/kg for DON and 100 μg/ kg for ZEA). For wheat, DON and ZEA were detected in 73 and 38% with 30% and 9% of the samples above the MTL (1250 μg/kg for DON and 200 μg/kg for ZEA). The overall mean concentration of DON was 737 μg/kg in barley and 660 μg/kg in wheat. The mean yearly DON levels varied less in barley (446 μg/kg to 1114 μg/kg) compared to wheat (346 μg/ kg to 1274 μg/kg). For the latter, a high peak of DON was found in 2014 when 58% of the samples were above the MTL and the toxin levels averaged 1274 μg/kg across all samples. The mean yearly concentration of ZEA was 138 and 111 μg/ kg for barley and wheat, respectively, with the highest prevalence and concentration reported in 2008 and 2009, for both crops. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive summary of DON and ZEA contamination in barley and wheat in Brazil for almost a decade of monitoring. Continuous assessment and close inspection of highly contaminated batches are essential to ensure food safety and mitigate the risk that these mycotoxins can cause to human and animal health.

Fusarium Mycotoxins in Swiss Wheat: A Survey of Growers’ Samples between 2007 and 2014 Shows Strong Year and Minor Geographic Effects

“…This finding is most probably due to the presence of three of the most frequent Fusarium species in Europe, F. graminearum , F. poae and F. culmorum , e.g., [ 14 , 38 , 39 , 40 ], although the latter seems to be decreasing during the last decades [ 41 , 42 ]. Even on a global level, such as in Argentina, Australia, Brazil and Canada, these toxins are considered to be the most frequent ones in small-grain cereals [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ].…”

Antifungal Activity of Chitosan Nanoparticles Encapsulated With Cymbopogon martinii Essential Oil on Plant Pathogenic Fungi Fusarium graminearum

“…Intolerably, 11% and 7% of wheat samples were surpassed the EU regulatory limits of DON and ZEA, respectively, and found unfit for consumption. Similarly, Mallmann et al (2017) during 2008–2015 in Brazil have measured the prevalence of FHB and detected 73% and 38% of wheat samples, 67% and 41% of barley samples were contaminated with DON and ZEA, respectively. Furthermore, Kos et al (2017) in Serbia have noticed 260.1–1388, 260.4–9050, and 252.3–6280 μg/kg of DON in maize samples during 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively.…”

Combinational Inhibitory Action of Hedychium spicatum L. Essential Oil and γ-Radiation on Growth Rate and Mycotoxins Content of Fusarium graminearum in Maize: Response Surface Methodology

“…In Hungary, Tima et al ( 2018 ) have surveyed the occurrence of DON in maize, wheat and its by-products during the period 2008–2015 and noticed overall mean of 2,159 ± 2,818 μg/kg, which was annoyingly much higher than maximum allowed limit. Besides, Mallmann et al ( 2017 ) have summarized the occurrence of DON and ZEA in barley and wheat grains of Southern Brazil during the middle of 2008–2015 and noticed 67% of DON and 41% of ZEA contamination. Similarly, Tralamazza et al ( 2016 ) have observed 99% of DON and 84% of ZEA contamination in wheat samples originated from Brazil.…”