Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 53 No. 5, 2022.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.53.5.14
Ergot sclerotia and ergot alkaloids occurrence in wheat and rye grains produced in Croatia
Jelka Pleadin
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Nina Kudumija
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Mario Škrivanko
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Vinkovci Veterinary Branch, Croatia
Luka Cvetnić
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Danijela Petrović
; Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Višnja Vasilj
; Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Manuela Zadravec
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Ergot alkaloids (EAs) are mycotoxins produced by several species of fungi of the genus Claviceps, among which Claviceps purpurea is the most widespread in Europe. This species has been found in many economically important cereal grains, such as rye, wheat, triticale, barley, millet and oats. The distribution of EA contamination has a sporadic incidence, with many factors involved in its occurrence, greatly varying between fungal strains, geographic regions, host plants and regional/local weather conditions. Cool, damp weather favours ergot by enhancing the germination of sclerotia. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of ergot sclerotia and EAs in wheat and rye grain samples (n = 64) collected during 2021 from Croatian cereal producers in central and eastern Croatia. In two rye samples, the presence of ergot sclerotia was detected in the amount of 259 mg/kg and 536 mg/kg,
whereas no wheat samples tested positive for ergot sclerotia. A higher contamination with EAs was determined in the rye samples (18% contaminated; max 167.4 μg/kg), while a lower frequency of contamination was determined in wheat, with only one positive sample (1.9%; 68.5 μg/kg). The results indicate low-level EA contamination of wheat and rye cultivated by Croatian producers during the study period. However, despite the low incidence of positive rye samples with EAs, the contents of ergot sclerotia in two samples were higher than permitted by the legislation for foodstuffs. Since the levels of these mycotoxins and ergot sclerotia content can vary depending on a number of factors, further research is required over a longer period of time and under different cereal cultivation and processing conditions.
Keywords
ergot alkaloids; ergot sclerotia; ELISA; wheat; rye; croatian fields
Hrčak ID:
272200
URI
Publication date:
20.12.2021.
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