title: The compositional mosaic of Fusarium species and their mycotoxins in unprocessed cereals, food and feed products in Belgium.
abstract: Global food safety depends on continuous monitoring of food contaminants such as mycotoxins in cereals and cereal-derived products. Here, we combine this type of investigation with quantitative occurrence data on Fusarium infestation of these products in extensive correlation studies. Finally, this contributes to a thorough understanding of the presence, origin and physiology of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) related mycotoxins and the correlations within their ranks. Two hundred and thirty-seven samples were analyzed from diverse cereal matrices, representing the most important stages of the cereal food and feed chain in Belgium. Food, feed and non-processed field samples were investigated, with a strong emphasis on whole-grain food products. Two approaches were pursued to estimate the full scope of FHB and its repercussions: UPLC-MS/MS was applied to detect twelve different mycotoxins, and Q-PCR was used to measure the presence of ten Fusarium species. We found that different matrices have different characteristic contamination profiles, and extensive correlation studies identified certain mycotoxins for future assessment (e.g. moniliformin produced by the Fusarium avenaceum/Fusarium tricinctum species group). The investigated harvest year of 2012 yielded many non-processed field materials containing elevated levels of deoxynivalenol (DON), while even in a so-called DON-year less prevalent toxins such as T-2 and HT-2 might be considered problematic due to their consistent co-occurrence with related mycotoxins. Our data illustrate complex interactions between the many Fusarium species that are responsible for FHB and their mycotoxins. Correlation studies demonstrate that consistent co-occurrence of mycotoxins is not to be neglected, and pinpoint issues for future surveillance and legislation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Crop Protection, Laboratory of Phytopathology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: adriaan.vanheule@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Adriaan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanheule
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Crop Protection, Laboratory of Phytopathology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Audenaert
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioanalysis, Laboratory of Food Analysis, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marthe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Boevre
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landschoot
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bekaert
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Phytopathology, Applied Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud L7.05.03, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Munaut
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eeckhout
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Protection, Laboratory of Phytopathology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Höfte
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioanalysis, Laboratory of Food Analysis, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Saeger
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Crop Protection, Laboratory of Phytopathology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haesaert
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000382:microbiology*; D001530:Belgium; D044822:Biodiversity; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000382:microbiology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005670:Fusarium / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D009183:Mycotoxins
keywords: Correlation; Fusarium; Legislation; Mycotoxins; Survey