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

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(TM) 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 less than or equal to 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.