Preharvest Natural Multitoxin Contamination of Winter Wheat Genotypes in Hungary with Special Attention to Aflatoxins and HT-2 Toxin

Toxigenic fungi are among the most significant disease-causing agents in wheat. DON is the most common <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxin, and for a long time, it was the only toxin researched. However, multitoxin data from wheat samples have drawn attention to the fact that much more toxins can...

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Main Authors: Attila Berényi, Balázs Szabó, Tamás Meszlényi, Csaba Vágvölgyi, Beáta Tóth, Ákos Mesterházy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/11/2024
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author Attila Berényi
Balázs Szabó
Tamás Meszlényi
Csaba Vágvölgyi
Beáta Tóth
Ákos Mesterházy
author_facet Attila Berényi
Balázs Szabó
Tamás Meszlényi
Csaba Vágvölgyi
Beáta Tóth
Ákos Mesterházy
author_sort Attila Berényi
collection DOAJ
description Toxigenic fungi are among the most significant disease-causing agents in wheat. DON is the most common <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxin, and for a long time, it was the only toxin researched. However, multitoxin data from wheat samples have drawn attention to the fact that much more toxins can be involved in the wheat toxin story than we supposed earlier. For resistance breeding, we need a more detailed approach to identify toxins that occur above the limit and identify the source of the fungal species that produces them. This study analyzed local wheat varieties for fungal infections and natural multitoxin contamination. Eighteen winter wheat genotypes were tested for fungal contaminations across three different locations in 2021 and 2022. Fourteen different mycotoxins—deoxynivalenol, aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2), fumonisins (B1 and B2), sterigmatocystin, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, T-2, HT-2, and diacetoxyscirpenol—were analyzed using HPLC/triple-quad MS. Toxigenic species such as <i>Fusarium</i>, <i>Aspergillus</i>, and <i>Penicillium</i> had low rates of occurrence, but the toxin contamination was often surprisingly high. Many samples without corresponding fungal infections were also identified as containing mycotoxins. Therefore, the identified fungal infection is less useful for forecasting toxin level. In conclusion, mycotoxin contamination is decisive. Most samples were contaminated by one or more mycotoxins. Although the mycotoxin concentrations typically remained below EU limits, some samples exhibited higher levels, particularly aflatoxins and Ht-2 toxin. Significant variations were observed across year, location, and genotype. For several toxins, significant genotype differences were identified, supporting the hypothesis that resistance may be a useful and suitable control measure. Stability of toxin contamination across years and locations is a very valuable trait; genotypes were identified with low toxin levels and stability (low variance) to all mycotoxins tested. It seems that, in addition to DON, more attention should be given to aflatoxin B1, B2, and G1, which provided similar concentrations. The HT-2 toxin was present in many samples surpassing EU limits. This is the first report on the dangerous occurrence of preharvest-origin aflatoxins and the HT-2 toxin of wheat in Hungary.
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spelling doaj-art-d548b38cb63f4a0cafec1149c040b3a62025-08-20T02:26:51ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722024-11-011411202410.3390/agriculture14112024Preharvest Natural Multitoxin Contamination of Winter Wheat Genotypes in Hungary with Special Attention to Aflatoxins and HT-2 ToxinAttila Berényi0Balázs Szabó1Tamás Meszlényi2Csaba Vágvölgyi3Beáta Tóth4Ákos Mesterházy5Cereal Research Non-Profit Ltd., 6726 Szeged, HungaryCereal Research Non-Profit Ltd., 6726 Szeged, HungaryCereal Research Non-Profit Ltd., 6726 Szeged, HungaryDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, HungaryCereal Research Non-Profit Ltd., 6726 Szeged, HungaryCereal Research Non-Profit Ltd., 6726 Szeged, HungaryToxigenic fungi are among the most significant disease-causing agents in wheat. DON is the most common <i>Fusarium</i> mycotoxin, and for a long time, it was the only toxin researched. However, multitoxin data from wheat samples have drawn attention to the fact that much more toxins can be involved in the wheat toxin story than we supposed earlier. For resistance breeding, we need a more detailed approach to identify toxins that occur above the limit and identify the source of the fungal species that produces them. This study analyzed local wheat varieties for fungal infections and natural multitoxin contamination. Eighteen winter wheat genotypes were tested for fungal contaminations across three different locations in 2021 and 2022. Fourteen different mycotoxins—deoxynivalenol, aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2), fumonisins (B1 and B2), sterigmatocystin, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, T-2, HT-2, and diacetoxyscirpenol—were analyzed using HPLC/triple-quad MS. Toxigenic species such as <i>Fusarium</i>, <i>Aspergillus</i>, and <i>Penicillium</i> had low rates of occurrence, but the toxin contamination was often surprisingly high. Many samples without corresponding fungal infections were also identified as containing mycotoxins. Therefore, the identified fungal infection is less useful for forecasting toxin level. In conclusion, mycotoxin contamination is decisive. Most samples were contaminated by one or more mycotoxins. Although the mycotoxin concentrations typically remained below EU limits, some samples exhibited higher levels, particularly aflatoxins and Ht-2 toxin. Significant variations were observed across year, location, and genotype. For several toxins, significant genotype differences were identified, supporting the hypothesis that resistance may be a useful and suitable control measure. Stability of toxin contamination across years and locations is a very valuable trait; genotypes were identified with low toxin levels and stability (low variance) to all mycotoxins tested. It seems that, in addition to DON, more attention should be given to aflatoxin B1, B2, and G1, which provided similar concentrations. The HT-2 toxin was present in many samples surpassing EU limits. This is the first report on the dangerous occurrence of preharvest-origin aflatoxins and the HT-2 toxin of wheat in Hungary.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/11/2024wheatmycotoxin<i>Fusarium</i><i>Aspergillus</i>multitoxins in wheatvariety responses to toxins
spellingShingle Attila Berényi
Balázs Szabó
Tamás Meszlényi
Csaba Vágvölgyi
Beáta Tóth
Ákos Mesterházy
Preharvest Natural Multitoxin Contamination of Winter Wheat Genotypes in Hungary with Special Attention to Aflatoxins and HT-2 Toxin
Agriculture
wheat
mycotoxin
<i>Fusarium</i>
<i>Aspergillus</i>
multitoxins in wheat
variety responses to toxins
title Preharvest Natural Multitoxin Contamination of Winter Wheat Genotypes in Hungary with Special Attention to Aflatoxins and HT-2 Toxin
title_full Preharvest Natural Multitoxin Contamination of Winter Wheat Genotypes in Hungary with Special Attention to Aflatoxins and HT-2 Toxin
title_fullStr Preharvest Natural Multitoxin Contamination of Winter Wheat Genotypes in Hungary with Special Attention to Aflatoxins and HT-2 Toxin
title_full_unstemmed Preharvest Natural Multitoxin Contamination of Winter Wheat Genotypes in Hungary with Special Attention to Aflatoxins and HT-2 Toxin
title_short Preharvest Natural Multitoxin Contamination of Winter Wheat Genotypes in Hungary with Special Attention to Aflatoxins and HT-2 Toxin
title_sort preharvest natural multitoxin contamination of winter wheat genotypes in hungary with special attention to aflatoxins and ht 2 toxin
topic wheat
mycotoxin
<i>Fusarium</i>
<i>Aspergillus</i>
multitoxins in wheat
variety responses to toxins
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/11/2024
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