Correlation between DNA of trichothecene-producing Fusarium species and deoxynivalenol concentrations in wheat-samples

Abstract

Aims: Correlations between DNA content of trichothecene-producing Fusarium spp. and concentration of the key mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereal samples. Methods and Results: A LightCycler™ PCR-based assay was used to quantify the DNA from trichothecene-producing Fusarium spp. in 300 wheat samples. DNA concentrations ranged from not detectable to 16.3 mg kg-1 whereas DON concentrations (GC/MS data) varied from not detectable to 34.3 mg kg-1. Data analysis revealed a coefficient of correlation r = 0.9557 between DON concentrations and DNA-amounts over all samples. An interval of confidence for P = 95% was calculated based on samples with DON concentrations ≤1.5 mg kg-1 (n = 234). Conclusions: Quantification of 32 samples of Fusarium-contaminated wheat was performed within 45 min. Data analysis allowed estimation of DON contamination from quantitative PCR data in the wheat samples. Significance and Impact of the Study: The method described is useful for the screening of cereals in industrial quality control.