a survey of the cereal contamination with deoxynivalenol ... · six agricultural regions (western...

Romanian Biotechnological Letters Vol. 22, No. 1, 2017 Copyright © 2016 University of Bucharest Printed in Romania. All rights reserved ORIGINAL PAPER

Romanian Biotechnological Letters, Vol. 22, No. 1, 2017 12240

A survey of the cereal contamination with deoxynivalenol in Romania, for 2011 - 2013 period

Received for publication, August 8, 2015

Accepted, September 9, 2015

VALERIA GAGIU1*, ELENA MATEESCU2, IRINA SMEU1, ALINA ALEXANDRA DOBRE1, MIRELA ELENA CUCU1, OANA ALEXANDRA OPREA2, ENUTA IORGA1, NASTASIA BELC1

1. National Research&Development Institute for Food Bioresources – IBA Bucharest, 5th Baneasa Ancuta street, 2nd district, code 020323, Bucharest, Romania 2. National Meteorological Administration (METEO-Romania), 97th Bucharest-Ploiesti street, code 013686, Romania *Address for correspondence to: [email protected]

Abstract

This is the first research on deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in Romanian cereal crops that combines the time (2011 - 2013), geographical (41 counties, 6 regions) and measurement (90 weather stations; 1754 cereal samples, 150 cultivars) scales. DON contamination varied between <18.5 - 5027.7 μg/kg (2012 crop) and <18.5 - 3602.6 μg/kg (2013 crop). The incidence of samples with DON>1000 μg/kg was 3.4% (28/831 samples) in 2012 crop, and 2.4% (22/923 samples) in 2013 crop. The analytical results have shown that contamination of cereals with DON is not a major problem at national level, but depending on the climatic conditions of each year (abundant or excessive rainfall 101 - 250 L/m2) it could be at regional level (Western Plain: 4958.56 μg/kg and 3602.56 μg/kg, and Transylvania: 4345.7 μg/kg and 3106.44 μg/kg), often local level. The main factors that influenced grain contamination with DON are considered the climate conditions (in the critical growing from May to June), the crop location in potential flood areas (especially for Somes and Mures rivers) and the high soil water supply (1300 - 1600 mc/ha). For 2011 - 2013 years a possible risk area was the North-West Romania where the synergistic action of meteorological, hydrological and geographical factors favored the high incidence and levels of DON contamination in cereals.

Keywords: deoxynivalenol, cereals, meteorology, hydrology, geography, GIS, Romania 1. Introduction

Cereal contamination with Fusarium and deoxynivalenol mycotoxin is influenced by the agronomic factors (M. LINDBLAD & al. [1], A. BERNHOFT & al. [2]), climate especially at anthesis (X.M. XU [3], B. ŠKRBIC & al. [4], V. GAGIU & al. [5]), geographical (A. BERNHOFT & al. [2], V. GAGIU & al. [5]) and hydrological factors (V. GAGIU & al. [5]). Fusarium head blight (FHB) and grain contamination with DON are affected by the oxygen level, the mecanic breakage of grains and the presence of fungal spores (J. PLEADIN & al. [6]), the amount of crop residues on the ground during flowering (A. MAIORANO & al. [7]), the susceptibility of varieties and fungicide applications (S.R. PIRGOZLIEV & al. [8], H.-J. KOCH & al. [9], K.T. WILLYERD & al. [10]), the cultivation practices (R. DILL-MACKY [11]), the speed of drying, the storage errors, and the hot spots (A. LLORENS & al. [12], J.J. MATEO & al. [13]). The cereal varieties with moderate phenotypic resistance are susceptible to DON accumulation, suggesting that in some varieties, the resistance to FHB can be independent by resistance to DON accumulation (J. HERNANDEZ-NOPSA & al. [14], E. ARSENIUK & al. [15].

Generally cereal infections occur during anthesis, the stage at which anthers break and pollen flows (R.N. STRANGE and H. SMITH [16]). Rainfalls rather than quantity are the most critical factor in Fusarium infection. Heavy rainfalls before anthesis and also during ripening lead to greater contamination with deoxynivalenol compared to the situation following a dry period after anthesis (J. HERNANDEZ-NOPSA & al. [14]). The optimum temperature for FHB development is 25°C, regardless of the humidity duration (J.D. MILLER & al. [17]). In


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wheat, the most harmful infections occur during flowering or shortly after flowering. Under natural conditions, environmental conditions (particularly rainfall and duration) can play an important role in determining the amount of DON produced compared with the chemotype of pathogen present in a given location (J.D. MILLER [18], H.-S. KIM & al. [19]).

It is anticipated that climate change will affect the European agriculture, including the risk of food or feed hazards (L. ELSGAARD & al. [20], H.J. VAN DER FELS-KLERX & al. [21]). An effective management tool to reduce wheat contamination with FHB and DON involves the application of multiple integrated strategies, and there have been few studies to assess their quantitative effect (M. BLANDINO & al. [22]).

There are some reason for concerns on mycotoxins contamination because of the agroclimatic condition in Romania, in the context of climate change. In Southern Romania the temperature is foreseen to increase by 4-5°C and water availability will be reduced particularly in the summer; in Northern Romania temperature is foreseen to increase by 3-4°C and rainfall may increase in winter and decrease in summer (IPCC [23]). Romania is an important regional producer of wheat, occupying the third position in the Central Europe after Serbia and Hungary (E. ALEXA & al. [24]). The risk evaluation of mycotoxins contamination the agrifood and feed chains was performed only by separate evaluations. For example, for Western Romania, Curtui & al. [25] analyzed 55 samples of wheat and corn for animal consumption (post-harvest 1997) and showed that DON was the major contaminant in wheat (100%) and corn (46%). Also, for Western Romania, Alexa & al. [24, 26] analyzed 52 samples of grain (2011 and 2012 crops), showing that the climatic conditions in Western Plain favored DON contamination; in 2010 year there were detected 73.08% DON positive samples, with the maximum concentration of 3390 µg/kg, and in 2011 year there were detected 19.23% DON positive samples. For the South-East Romania, Tabuc & al. [27] analysed 86 samples (corn, wheat, barley, oats, rye, soybean, sunflower, rape, rice and triticale) and detected 71.60% DON positive samples. For Eastern Romania, Banu & al. [28] have detected an incidence of 42.5% DON positive samples from 80 samples of 2008 crop. Ittu & al. [29] showed that wheat contamination with deoxynivalenol vary by the location, the year of study and the interaction between genotype and environment (M. ITTU & al. [30]).

The aim of this article was to determine the cereal contamination with deoxynivalenol under the influence of meteorological, hydrological and geographical factors in Romania in two consecutive agricultural years (2011-2012 and 2012-2013). Our present work deals with an integrated approach (analytic control, grain varieties, meteorological factors, hydrological conditions and geographical location) to effectively control the DON incidence in harvest.

2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Cereal samples

Romanian territory is organized in 41 counties and Bucharest, the county being the administrative territorial unit in our country. Six agricultural regions (Western Plain, Transylvania, Moldavia, Southern Hilly Area, Southern Plain and Dobrogea, Oltenia Plain) have been created as non-administrative territorial units. Cereals were sampled directly off the fields immediately after harvest by skilled persons and according to the Order no. 355/2005 of the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Incremental samples (n = 100) were mixed to form a composed sample of 5 kg, packed in textil bags and sent to laboratory for the deoxynivalenol analysis. Each composed sample is representative for a surface of 3000 ha. 2.2. Deoxynivalenol analysis

A number of 1754 cereal samples (common wheat, durum wheat, triticale and rye) were analysed, of which: 831 samples of 2012 crop and 923 samples of 2013 crop. Cereal samples were ground by a Perten mil (with a 0.1 mm sieve) and DON mycotoxin was

VALERIA GAGIU, ELENA MATEESCU, IRINA SMEU, ALINA ALEXANDRA DOBRE, MIRELA ELENA CUCU, OANA ALEXANDRA OPREA, ENUTA IORGA, NASTASIA BELC


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quantified by ELISA method (Ridascreen DON kit and Ridawin software, R-BIOPHARM, Germany) using a Sunrise spectrophotometer (TECAN, Switzerland) with an absorbance filter of 450 nm. The EC Regulation no. 1881/2006 established a maximum limit for DON of 1250 μg/kg for unprocessed small-grain cereals for human consumption. 2.3. Meteorological data

Romanian sinoptic network has 90 meteorological MAWS stations with Ceres-wheat and DSSAT v.3.5. software and series of historical data since 1961 to present; 14 meteo stations have historical data over 100 years. Meteorological data were the monthly averages of the air temperature and the precipitation of each agricultural year (1 October to 31 August). To determine the influence of climate parameters on DON contamination, the maximum values of mean parameters were used. 2.4. Research methodology

For data collection a DON – CLIM (mycotoxins – climate) database in Excel format was made. Research activities combined the time scale (2 agricultural years, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013), the geographical scale (41 counties, 6 agricultural regions of Romania) and the measurement scale (90 weather stations; 1754 cereal samples of 122 cultivars). Data for deoxynivalenol contamination of cereals crops and precipitation amount were processed and graphically represented nationally in GIS (Geographical International Systems).

3. Results and Discussion 3.1. Incidence and level of DON contamination in cereals crops related to the geographical locations

For agricultural year 2011-2012, the incidence of positive samples (DON>18.50 μg/kg) for Romania was 65%. The incidence of DON positive samples was 53.1 – 91.8% in Northern Romania (Moldavia 53.1%, Transylvania 87.8% and Western Plain 91.8%) and 25.5 – 55.7% in Southern Romania (Southern Hilly Area 25.5%, Southern Plain and Dobrogea 53.1% and Oltenia Plain 55.7%). The level of DON contamination in cereals ranged between <18.5 - 5027.7 μg/kg, with a mean of 183.7 μg/kg. Of the analyzed samples, 3.4% (28/831 samples) contained DON>1000 μg/kg (1246.2 - 5027.7 μg/kg) (table 1). The incidence of samples with DON>1000 µg/kg was between 1.6 – 8.9% in Northern Romania (Moldavia 1.6%, Transylvania 8.9% and Western Plain 6.4%) and 0.9 - 7.5% in Southern Romania (Southern Hilly Area 7.5%, Southern Plain and Dobrogea 1.0% and Oltenia Plain 0.9%). In all agricultural regions some counties registered samples with DON>1000 µg/kg (Western Plain: Timis 16.7%; Transylvania: Brasov 7.7%, Covasna 8.3%, Hunedoara 14.3%, Mures 15.4%, Maramures 20%, Salaj 25.4%; Moldavia: Bacau 12.5%, Vrancea 9.1%; Southern Hilly Area: Arges 5.9%, Buzau 20%, Gorj 20%; Southern Plain and Dobrogea: Braila 10.4%; Oltenia Plain: Olt 2.3%) (figure 1).

For agricultural year 2012-2013, the incidence of positive samples (DON>18.50 μg/kg) for Romania was 53%. The incidence of DON positive samples was 50.7-79.8% in Northern Romania (Moldavia 50.7%, Transylvania 76.3% and Western Plain 79.8%) and 11.1-34.2% in Southern Romania (Southern Hilly Area 34.2%, Southern Plain and Dobrogea 11.1%, and Oltenia Plain 24.4%). The level of DON contamination in cereals ranged between <18.5 - 3602.6 μg/kg, with a mean of 115.1 μg/kg. Of the analyzed samples, 2.4% (22/923 samples) contained DON>1000 μg/kg (1086.2 - 3602.6 μg/kg) (table 1). In 2013, the maximum level of DON decreased with approx. 1500 μg/kg relative to the previous year (5027.7 μg/kg). The incidence of samples with DON>1000 µg/kg was between 2.1-10.9% in the Northern Romania (Moldavia 2.1%, Transylvania 10.9% and Western Plain 5.9%) and 0% in the Southern Romania. Only in the Northern Romania were registered some counties with cereal samples with DON>1000 µg/kg (Western Plain: Bihor 10.7%, Satu-Mare 33.3%; Transylvania: Alba 6.7%, Bistrita-Nasaud 66.7%, Maramures 62.5%, Salaj 36.4%; Moldavia: Iasi 4.3%, Suceava 22.0%) (figure 1).



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Related to the previous year, in 2013 the incidence of DON positive samples decreased with 14-18% in the Northern Romania (Western Plain and Transylvania regions) and 57-79% in the Southern Romania (Southern Plain and Dobrogea, and Oltenia Plain regions). In the North-West Romania the maximum contamination decreased with approx. 1500 µg/kg and only two neighboring counties (Salaj and Maramures) recorded cereal samples with DON>1000 µg/kg. For Western Plain, Curtui & al. [25] found 5600 µg/kg DON contamination of wheat samples under the influence of heavy rainfall before harvest.

Table 1. Incidence and intervals of deoxynivalenol contamination in cereal crops of Romania, in period 2011-2013.

Cereal crop 2011 – 2012 Cereal crop 2012 – 2013 DON Incidence, % DON Incidence, %

Agricultural regions of Romania

Sam

ple,

s/

Var

ietie

s, v

Posi

tive

sam

ples

>1

8.5

µg/k

g

Sam

nple

s >1

000

µg/k

g

Interval* of DON, µg/kg

Sam

ple,

s/

Var

ietie

s, v

Posi

tive

sam

ples

>1

8.5

µg/k

g

Sam

ples

>1

000

µg/k

g

Interval* of DON, µg/kg

Western Plain

110s/53v

91.8% (101/110s)

6.4% (7/110s)

<18.5…289.0…4958.6

119s/43v

79.8% (95/119s)

5.9% (7/119s)

<18.5…252.8 …3602.6

Transylvania 90s/36v

87.8% (79/90s)

8.9% (8/90s)

<18.5...467.5...4345.7

110s/45v

76.3% (84/110s)

10.9% (12/110s)

<18.5…336.4 …3106.4

Moldavia 128s/53v

53.1% (68/128s)

1.6% (2/128s)

<18.5...113.5...2351.4

144s/43v

50.7% (73/144s)

2.1% (3/144s)

<18.5...165.5 ...1878.3

Southern Hilly Area

94s/34v

25.5% (24/94s)

7.5% (7/94s)

<18.5...300.1...5027.7

111s/34v

34.2% (38/111s)

0.0% (0/111s)

<18.5...30.3 ...245.6

Southern Plain and Dobrogea

294s/31v

53.1% (156/294s)

1.0% (3/294s)

18.5...92.8...4345.7

316s/40v

11.1% (35/316s)

0.0% (0/316s)

<18.5...28.2 ...360.7

Oltenia Plain 115s/25v

55.7% (64/115s)

0.9% (1/115s)

<18.5...72.1...1304.3

123s/22v

24.4% (30/123s)

0.0% (0/123s)

<18.5...24.8 ...92.7

ROMANIA 831s/115v

65% (540/831s)

3.4% (28/831s)

<18.5…183.7 …5027.7

923s/122v

53% (489/923s)

2.4% (22/923s)

<18.5…115.1 …3602.6

Note: * Interval of DON (minimum – average – maximum).

A survey from Europe showed a maximum DON contamination of 4130 μg/kg in 2009 (F. BERTHILLER & al. [31]). In Bulgaria, the levels of DON in wheat samples recorded 1800 µg/kg (T. VRABCHEVA & al. [32]. In experiments carried out between 2005 and 2008 in the North Italy, Blandino & al. [33] found a very high DON contamination of cereals from Riva Presso Chieri (12995 µg/kg) and Sant’Angelo Lodigiano (9310 µg/kg) sites. In China, the incidence of FHB and a very high contamination of cereals with DON were highly correlated with rain and/or high humidity at anthesis: 41157.1 μg/kg in 2012 year (J.N. SELVARAJ & al. [34]), 4975 μg/kg in 2013 year (L. CUI & al. [35]) and 41157 µg/kg - Northern Jiangsu, respectively 13510 µg/kg - Central Jiangsu in a three years survey 2010 – 2012 (F. JI & al. [36]).

In 2012 crop, the level of DON contamination in cereals ranged between <18.5 - 5027.7 μg/kg (mean value of 262.67 μg/kg) in common wheat, <18.5 - 402.4 μg/kg in durum wheat, <18.5 - 3378.4 μg/kg (mean value of 322.45 μg/kg) in triticale and 18.5 - 65.6 μg/kg in rye (figure 2). The incidence of samples with DON>1000 µg/kg was 3.4% (25/740 samples) for common wheat and 4.4% (3/69 samples) for triticale. In 2013 crop, the level of DON contamination in cereals ranged between <18.5 - 3602.6 μg/kg (mean value of 108.2 μg/kg) in common wheat, <18.5 - 49.8 μg/kg in durum wheat, <18.5 - 3106.4 μg/kg (mean 205 μg/kg; 4/78 samples) in triticale samples and <23 - 360.7 μg/kg in rye (figure 2). The incidence of



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the samples with DON>1000 µg/kg was 2.2% (18/816 samples) for common wheat, and 5.1% (4/78 samples) for triticale.

Figure 1. Maximum levels of DON in cereal crops from Romanian counties and agricultural regions, under the synergistic action of meteorological, hydrological and geographical factors in 2011 - 2013 period. The incidence and level of DON were highest for Western Plain (Timis, Bihor and Satu-Mare counties), Transylvania (Salaj, Maramures, Mures and Bistrita-Nasaud counties) and Southern Hilly Area (Gorj, Arges and Buzau counties).

Figure 2. Deoxynivalenol level in cereal categories from Romania, in period 2011 – 2013. Common wheat and triticale had the highest DON contamination level (especially in 2012 crop, for all regions);

durum wheat and rye samples showed a very low DON contamination.



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3.2. Incidence and level of DON contamination in cereal crops related to the cereal varieties DON analysis was performed for 831 samples of 115 varieties (2012 crop) and 923 samples

of 122 varieties (2013 crop) belonging to the common wheat, durum wheat, triticale and rye. In both agricultural years of Romania, the durum wheat and rye samples showed a

very low contamination with deoxynivalenol mycotoxin (figure 2). Cereal samples with DON>1000 μg/kg belonged to the cultivars with a low and

medium resistance to Fusarium sp. attack. The low mean DON concentration and the incidence of cereal samples with DON>1000 μg/kg from a specific cereal variety indicate a good resistance to Fussarium sp. attack of the most cultivated varieties (wheat cultivars: Alex, Apache, Ariesan, Boema, Ciprian, Dropia, Exotic, Flamura 85 and Renan; triticale cultivars: Haiduc and Titan). According to M. Ittu & al. [29, 30] research performed in Romania showed that the wheat contamination with deoxynivalenol vary by the location, the year of study and the interaction between genotype and environment. The resistance of the cereal varieties is an agronomic factor with a significant influence on the deoxynivalenol contamination level (M. LINDBLAD & al. [1], A. BERNHOFT & al. [2], A. MESTERHAZY & al. [37], E.D. VAN ASSELT & al. [38], H.J. VAN DER FELS-KLERX & al. [39], H.J. VAN DER FELS-KLERX & al. [40], F. JI & al. [41]).

A survey from Hungary (1991 - 1998) recorded a DON contamination of 70 - 1560 μg/kg in wheat (n = 367), 50 - 580 μg/kg in triticale (n = 32) and 120 - 490 μg/kg in rye (n = 14); very few data are available on DON contamination of triticale (P. RAFAI & al. [42]). In Romania, triticale samples were highest contaminated with DON mycotoxin in Transylvania region (21.16 - 3378.44 µg/kg, mean of 605.8 µg/kg; 3/19 samples) in the 2012 crop and (21.91 - 3106.44 µg/kg, mean 632.47 µg/kg; 4/18 samples) in the 2013 crop. Very low DON contamination of durum wheat was registered also in a Tunisian survey from 2007 crop (for 65 samples, 7.2 - 54 µg/kg) (F. BENSASSI & al. [43]) and Morocco survey (81 samples, not detected to 1310 µg/kg) (A. ENNOUARI & al. [44]).

3.3. Deoxynivalenol contamination of cereal crops under the influence of meteorological, hydrological and geographical factors

For 2012 crop, the higher DON levels were correlated with 35-62% higher amount of precipitation in May (figure 3), followed by increases of the mean air temperatures with 4.8-6.2°C in June and increases of the heat stress by 2-11 folds. High, abundant and excessive rainfall during the critical period of vegetation (01 May to 30 June, the earing phase, flowering, grain formation and filling) are favorable for Fusarium sp. attack and DON production. For 2012 crop, the higher DON contamination was correlated with high (70.0 L/m2), abundant (104.7 – 140.4 L/m2) and excessive (156.5 L/m2) rainfall in May during anthesys and higher values of the heat stress (93 – 233 units) in June – August that influence Fusarium attack and deoxynivalenol production.

For 2013 crop, rainfalls were in high amounts (62.4 – 90.9 L/m2) in May for all regions and abundant amounts (107.3 – 144 L/m2) in June for the Transylvania and Moldavia (figure 3). These regions recorded samples with DON>1000 µg/kg.

The maximum DON contamination related to the agricultural regions was lower with 27-25% for the Northern Romania and with 92-95% for the Southern Romania. This situation of DON contamination is correlated with 35-62% decreasing of the rainfall in May and 34-75% increasing in June, proving the negative effect of the rainfall amount during anthesis period (figure 3). In two consecutive years (2011-2012 and 2012-2013) in Transylvania region, the maximum DON contamination levels (3106.4 and 4345.7 µg/kg) and incidence (8.9 and 10.9%) have been correlated with the highest values for winter harshness (cold and very cold winter: 705 and 304 coldness units, respective 705 and 629 frost units), with normal spring values (332 and 382 spring index) and abundant rainfall (134 and 144 L/m2) in critical growing season of the flowering and ripening of grain from May to June.



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The effects of rainfall during the growing and harvesting of cereals can be explored by rainfall accumulation from March - May (spring) and July - August (summer) (H.J. VAN DER FELS-KLERX & al. [39], L. ELSGAARD & al. [20], D.C. HOOKER & al. [45]). Deoxynivalenol level and rainfall data from Romania (2011-2013) were processed and graphically represented nationally in GIS, observing there was a correlation between the counties with grain samples contaminated with DON>1000 µg/kg and counties with increased rainfalls in May (figure 3). GIS maps provide a minimum input to growers but are too general as contamination often depends on local agro-meteorological conditions (A.W. SCHAAFSMA and D.C. HOOKER [46]). Romanian localities that registered some cereal samples contaminated with DON>1000 µg/kg are placed on banks of the rivers or their affluents: Bega, Crasna, Barcau; Somes, Mures, Cris; Jiu, Olt, Arges, Buzau; Suceava; Danube (for 2012 crop) and Somes, Mures, Suceava (for 2013 crop). Somes and Mures rivers are in the first ten rivers of Romania as length and volume. All these rivers and their affluents are mentioned on the map of the areas affected by historically significant floods (NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION "ROMANIAN WATERS [47]). During the critical growing period of cereals (May - June), these localities registered high (50-100 L/m2), abundant (101-150 L/m2) or excessive (151 – 250 L/m2) amount of rainfall, the soil water supply was recorded as high (1300-1600 mc/ha), and air temperatures were aprox. 20°C in June. Increasing of rainfall and soil water supply cause flooding fields and crop anoxia that favour mycotoxin production (M. SERENIUS & al. [48], P. BATTILANI & al. [49]). Taking into account the meteorological, hydrological and geographical factors that influenced the DON contamination of cereal crops in two consecutive years (2011-2012 and 2012-2013), it was considered that the North-West Romania may be a possible risk area for deoxynivalenol contamination. This area is placed to the confluence of regions Western Plain (Bihor and Satu Mare counties) and Transylvania (Maramures and Salaj counties). For 2012 and 2013 crops, the North-West Romania is characterized by a maximum DON level of 1375.6 µg/kg and 2671.7 µg/kg, DON incidence of 9% and 41.9%; only the Salaj and Maramures counties registered some samples with DON>1000 µg/kg in both years that are favored by the climate conditions. The Carpathian Arch acts as a complex barrier in the transport way of air masses influencing the North-Atlantic Oscillation signal, the Mediterranean cyclones and Arctic currents; as a result, during winter (December to March) the North-Atlantic Oscillation signal is stronger in regions outside the mountain chain, manifested an influence on the average air temperature (Banat region: Timis and Caras-Severin counties; the North-West Romania: Bihor, Salaj, Maramures, Satu-Mare, Bistrita-Nasaud and Mures counties). The Mediterranean cyclones affect the South-West Romania (Gorj and Dolj counties) and the Arctic currents affect the Northern Moldavia (Suceava, Neamt and Botosani counties) (A. BUSUIOC & al. [50]). In all these counties it was recorded a high incidence of DON positive samples and samples with DON>1000 µg/kg for the 2012 and 2013 crops, this suggests that there is a synergistic effect of winter weather conditions (cold, frost and precipitations) and the conditions of the critical growing period from May to June (rainfall, temperature and heat parameters). 4. Conclusions

Cereals contamination with DON is not a general, but only regional problem for Romania (Western Plain, Transylvania and Moldavia), often local and dependent on the annual meteorological conditions. The incidence of samples with DON>1000 μg/kg was very low in two consecutive years (2012 and 2013) and decreased with aprox. 1500 μg/kg. Synergistic action of meteorological, hydrological and geographical factors favored the incidence and elevated levels of DON contamination of cereals in the North-West Romania. Although cultivated areas are small and cereal production is low in this area, grain contamination with



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deoxynivalenol can affect the security and food safety, thus influencing negative the human and animal health. Because the risk must be strictly controlled at all stages of the agri-food chain (including primary stage ‘’field-post harvest’’), official control system must be developed and implemented, with a particular emphasis on the potential areas of risk.

Acknowledgments

This work had benefited from financial support through the contract ADER 8.1.1./2011 “Risk evaluation of mycotoxins contamination in the annual wheat crop from Romania’’ - the Sectoral Plan ADER 2020 of the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR).

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a) Romanian counties and agricultural regions that registered cereal samples contaminated with DON>1000 µg/kg.

b) Romanian counties and agricultural regions that registered maximum amounts of rainfall in the critical period

of cereal growth (May – June). Figure 3. Integration of the cereal contamination with deoxynivalenol and the rainfall data in GIS maps,

for agricultural years 2011 - 2012 and 2012 - 2013.



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a survey of the cereal contamination with deoxynivalenol ... · six agricultural regions (western...

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