Correlation between DNA of trichothecene-producing Fusarium species and deoxynivalenol concentrations in wheat-samples.
OBJECTIVE
Correlations between DNA content of trichothecene-producing Fusarium spp. and concentration of the key mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereal samples.


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 < or = 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.


CONCLUSIONS
The method described is useful for the screening of cereals in industrial quality control.
Schnerr
H
H
Technische Universität München, Lehrstuhl für Technische Mikrobiologie, Freising, Weihenstephan, Germany.
Vogel
R F
RF
Niessen
Ludwig
L
D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005670:Fusarium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D014255:Trichothecenes; C007262:deoxynivalenol