Deoxynivalenol Occurrence in Triticale Crops in Romania during the 2012-2014 Period with Extreme Weather Events.

Valeria Gagiu,Enuța Iorga,Elena Mateescu,Oana Alexandra Oprea,Irina Smeu,Nastasia Belc,Alina Alexandra Dobre,Mirela Elena Cucu,Daniel Alexandru

doi:10.3390/toxins13070456

Abstract

This article aims to evaluate deoxynivalenol occurrence in triticale crops in Romania in years with extreme weather events (2012: Siberian anticyclone with cold waves and heavy snowfall; 2013 and 2014: “Vb” cyclones with heavy precipitation and floods in spring). The deoxynivalenol level in triticale samples (N = 236) was quantified by ELISA. In Romania, the extreme weather events favoured deoxynivalenol occurrence in triticale in Transylvania and the Southern Hilly Area (44–47° N, 22–25° E) with a humid/balanced-humid temperate continental climate, luvisols and high/very high risk of floods. Maximum deoxynivalenol contamination was lower in the other regions, although heavy precipitation in May–July 2014 was higher, with chernozems having higher aridity. Multivariate analysis of the factors influencing deoxynivalenol occurrence in triticale showed at least a significant correlation for all components of variation source (agricultural year, agricultural region, average of deoxynivalenol, average air temperature, cumulative precipitation, soil moisture reserve, aridity indices) (p-value < 0.05). The spatial and geographic distribution of deoxynivalenol in cereals in the countries affected by the 2012–2014 extreme weather events revealed a higher contamination in Central Europe compared to southeastern and eastern Europe. Deoxynivalenol occurrence in cereals was favoured by local and regional agroclimatic factors and was amplified by extreme weather events.

Highlights

Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) is a cereal that combines the characteristics of wheat, i.e., superior biochemical properties and increased productivity, with those of rye, i.e., increased resistance to Fusarium spp. that produce mycotoxins deoxynivalenolDON, zearalenone-ZEA, fumonisins-FUM, nivalenol-NIV, moniliformin-MON, T-2/HT-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol-DAS
The period 2012–2014 was characterised by positive temperature anomalies globally, which led to extreme weather events represented by cold waves and heavy snowfall, extreme precipitation and floods in spring, and high thermal stress and severe pedological drought in summer
In 2012, the boreal winter was produced by a Siberian anticyclone generated by the Arctic Oscillation and correlated with climate change, and heavy precipitation was local on water-saturated soils in spring

Summary

Introduction

Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) is a cereal that combines the characteristics of wheat, i.e., superior biochemical properties and increased productivity, with those of rye, i.e., increased resistance to Fusarium spp. that produce mycotoxins deoxynivalenolDON, zearalenone-ZEA, fumonisins-FUM, nivalenol-NIV, moniliformin-MON, T-2/HT-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol-DAS. It is grown throughout the world in regions with unfavourable agroclimatic conditions (arid and semiarid areas, wetlands and acid soils), and is used for animal feed (pigs, poultry and ruminants such as cattle and sheep), human consumption (bread making, high-fibre extruded snacks, malting and brewing) and biofuel production [1–3]. Research in meteorology and climatology has been intensified to explain extreme weather events from a climate change perspective [15–22]

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