Occurrence of deoxynivalenol and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside in durum wheat

The occurrence of deoxynivalenol and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside in durum wheat samples (n=150; 25 lines x 2 reps x 3 environments) collected in 2010 from 3 areas located in north-central Italy was evaluated. In addition, the co-occurrence of other trichothecenes was considered. An optimised extraction method based on the use of salts followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was used for the quantification of the mycotoxins. All samples were found positive for deoxynivalenol at concentrations ranging between 47 and 3,715 mu g/kg. A ubiquitous occurrence of deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside was found; 85% of the analysed samples contained this masked mycotoxin at concentrations varying between 46 and 842 mu g/kg. In addition to glycosylated deoxynivalenol, acetylated forms of deoxynivalenol (3- and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol) were also found in most of the durum wheat samples. The deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside/deoxynivalenol ratio, reaching up to 30% in many samples, was similar to that already found in other cereals such as soft wheat and barley. These data open the way for further investigations on the role of glycosylating activity as a possible Fusarium head blight-resistance mechanism in durum wheat, as already proved in the case of soft wheat.