Progression of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone concentrations in straw of wheat infected artificially withFusarium culmorum

This investigation aimed at the progression of the contamination of theFusarium toxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) within the fractions straw, glumes and spindles from non-inoculated andFusarium-inoculated wheat. TheFusarium head blight (FHB)-susceptible wheat cultivar Ritmo was cultivated after the pre-crop maize and artificially infected withFusarium culmorum. Samples of whole wheat plants were taken once a week from anthesis until harvest and fractionated into straw, glumes and spindles. Samples were examined for deoxynivalenol and zearalenone and quantitatively determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array detection (DAD) and fluorescence detection, respectively. Additionally, the impact of theFusarium inoculation on the crude protein content was scrutinised. Differences in the formation of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone with respect to date and concentration are shown by this trial. Deoxynivalenol was produced in higher concentrations and at earlier stages, whereas zearalenone was formed later and in smaller amounts. Furthermore, a rise of the deoxynivalenol concentration up to a maximum during the growing season, followed by a sudden decline at later stages until harvest, was observed. ThisFusarium infection resulted in an increased crude protein content in all of the three fractions.