Co-occurrence of type A and B trichothecenes and zearalenone in wheat grown in northern Italy over the years 2009–2011

Abstract

The occurrence of the most widespread type A and B trichothecenes and of zearalenone was surveyed in soft and durum wheat produced in northern Italy. A total of 293 wheat fields, grown in the years 2009–2011, were surveyed; for each field, weather and cropping system data were collected. The results indicated a high deoxynivalenol incidence, with durum always more contaminated than soft wheat; in 2010, the percentage of durum wheat samples exceeding the European Commission legal limit was 39.6%. As regards type A trichothecenes, widespread contamination was observed in 2010. In soft wheat, an incidence of 70% and 85% was found for T-2 and HT-2 toxins, respectively; all the durum wheat samples were contaminated. The trichothecene contamination was affected by weather conditions; copious rainfall and high relative humidity (RH) during flowering occurred in 2010, when the highest contamination of both type A and B trichothecenes was found.

Keywords:

• deoxynivalenol
• T-2 and HT-2 toxins
• wheat
• weather and agronomic factors

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by EC KBBE-2007-222690-2 MYCORED and Emilia Romagna district, “Mitigation of mycotoxin risk in cereals” project L.R. 28/98 2009.