Journal Article

Occurrence of Fusarium langsethiae and T-2 and HT-2 Toxins in Italian Malting Barley

Lattanzio, Veronica, Pascale, Michelangelo, Tumino, Giorgio, Ghizzoni, Roberta, Terzi, Valeria, Badeck, Franz, Morcia, Caterina

2016

Overview

T-2 and HT-2 toxins are two of the most toxic members of type-A trichothecenes, produced by a number of Fusarium species. The occurrence of these mycotoxins was studied in barley samples during a survey carried out in the 2011–2014 growing seasons in climatically different regions in Italy. The percentage of samples found positive ranges from 22% to 53%, with values included between 26 and 787 μg/kg. The percentage of samples with a T-2 and HT-2 content above the EU indicative levels for barley of 200 μg/kg ranges from 2% to 19.6% in the 2011–2014 period. The fungal species responsible for the production of these toxins in 100% of positive samples has been identified as Fusarium langsethiae, a well-known producer of T-2 and HT-2 toxins. A positive correlation between the amount of F. langsethiae DNA and of the sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxins was found. This is the first report on the occurrence of F. langsethiae—and of its toxic metabolites T-2 and HT-2—in malting barley grown in Italy.

• Publisher: MDPI,MDPI AG
• Subject: barley / Food Analysis - methods / Food Microbiology / Fusarium - classification / Fusarium - growth & development / Fusarium - metabolism / Fusarium Head Blight / Fusarium langsethiae / Hordeum - microbiology / HT-2 toxin / Humans / Italy / monitoring / Risk Assessment / Seasons / T-2 toxin / T-2 Toxin - analogs & derivatives / T-2 Toxin - metabolism / Time Factors / toxigenic fungi