Abstract
In this work, we studied the impact of harvesting time on Fusarium mycotoxin occurrence in spring wheat and the effect of mycotoxin contamination on the quality of these grains. The spring wheat grains (Triticum aestivum L.) were collected in 2016–2018 when the crop had reached full maturity, 10 ± 2 days and 17 ± 3 days after full maturity. The grain samples were analyzed for Fusarium infection and co-contamination with mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), and T-2 toxin (T-2), as well as the quality of the wheat grains (mass per hectolitre, contents of protein, starch, ash and fat, particle size index (PSI), falling number, sedimentation, wet gluten content, and gluten index). The occurrence of Fusarium spp. fungi and the mycotoxins produced by them in the grains was mostly influenced by the harvesting time and meteorological conditions. The correlations between Fusarium species and the mycotoxins produced by them in the grains of spring wheat showed F. graminearum to be a dominant species, and as a result, higher concentrations of DON and ZEA were determined. The co-occurrence of all the three mycotoxins analyzed (deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin) was identified in wheat. In rainy years, a delay in harvesting resulted in diminished grain quality of spring wheat, as indicated by grain mass per hectolitre and falling number. Negative correlations were found in highly contaminated grains between mycotoxins (DON, ZEA, and T-2) and falling number and grain mass per hectolitre values.
Highlights
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a common disease of cereals, caused by F. graminearum Schwabe (Gibberella zeae teleomorph) and F. culmorum (Wm.G.Sm.) Sacc., which leads to a diminished wheat grain yield, and lower grade and finished product quality [1,2,3,4]
Higher diversity of Fusarium species (F. poae (Peck) Wollenw., F. tricinctum, (Corda) Sacc., F. sporotrichioides Sherb., F. graminearum Schwabe, F. culmorum (W.G.Sm.) Sacc., and F. avenaceum (Fr.) Sacc. in wheat was found in 2017, when the conditions were more conducive to Fusarium infection (Figure 3)
The results of this study show how delay in harvesting time can lead to mycotoxin contamination and losses in grain quality, which presents a potential consumer health hazard
Summary
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a common disease of cereals, caused by F. graminearum Schwabe (Gibberella zeae teleomorph) and F. culmorum (Wm.G.Sm.) Sacc., which leads to a diminished wheat grain yield, and lower grade and finished product quality [1,2,3,4]. Major Fusarium mycotoxins that can occur in cereal grains and cereal-based products are deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 and HT-2 toxins, and zearalenone (ZEA). Their biosynthesis can be affected by a host of factors, including temperature, and humidity, oxygen level, mechanical cereal damage, and the presence of mold spores. The extent of their impact usually depends on climate conditions and widely varies across different world climate zones [7,8]. Xue et al [10] confirmed that the occurrence of total Fusarium spp. increased about twofold, from 9.5% in seed harvested early to 19.8% following delayed harvest
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