Irrigation-dependent accumulation of microcystin in different crops under mid-scale greenhouse conditions

The potential health risks of consuming crops irrigated with microcystin-contaminated water are increasingly recognized. While previous studies demonstrated microcystin accumulation in crops, they do not fully reflect real-world conditions and have data gaps. Moreover, some available studies also ob...

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Main Authors: Wannes H.R. Van Hassel, Elise Tardy, Bart Cottyn, Mirjana Andjelkovic, An Decombel, Jeroen Van Wichelen, Julien Masquelier, Andreja Rajkovic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325001243
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author Wannes H.R. Van Hassel
Elise Tardy
Bart Cottyn
Mirjana Andjelkovic
An Decombel
Jeroen Van Wichelen
Julien Masquelier
Andreja Rajkovic
author_facet Wannes H.R. Van Hassel
Elise Tardy
Bart Cottyn
Mirjana Andjelkovic
An Decombel
Jeroen Van Wichelen
Julien Masquelier
Andreja Rajkovic
author_sort Wannes H.R. Van Hassel
collection DOAJ
description The potential health risks of consuming crops irrigated with microcystin-contaminated water are increasingly recognized. While previous studies demonstrated microcystin accumulation in crops, they do not fully reflect real-world conditions and have data gaps. Moreover, some available studies also obtained data with suboptimal analytical methods.Therefore, this study evaluated microcystin-LR (MC-LR) accumulation in strawberries, carrots, and lettuce under spray and drip irrigation, using a state-of-the-art, validated UHPLC-MS/MS method in a medium-scale setup similar to commercial greenhouse production.MC-LR was detected in the outer and middle leaves of lettuce after spray irrigation. In carrots, only a few replicates showed MC-LR in the greens or taproot, yielding inconclusive results. In strawberries, MC-LR accumulated in the roots, foliage, and fruit after spray irrigation. Additionally, drip irrigation led to MC-LR accumulation in strawberry roots and greens, even though only the roots were directly exposed.The findings suggest that strawberry plants are particularly susceptible to microcystin accumulation when irrigated with contaminated water, highlighting the need for risk mitigation measures.
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spelling doaj-art-db7f64891740480ab67ba5c863cc7f4a2025-08-20T02:06:43ZengElsevierJournal of Agriculture and Food Research2666-15432025-04-012010175310.1016/j.jafr.2025.101753Irrigation-dependent accumulation of microcystin in different crops under mid-scale greenhouse conditionsWannes H.R. Van Hassel0Elise Tardy1Bart Cottyn2Mirjana Andjelkovic3An Decombel4Jeroen Van Wichelen5Julien Masquelier6Andreja Rajkovic7Sciensano, Leuvensteenweg 17, 3080, Tervuren, Belgium; Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium; Corresponding author. Sciensano, Leuvensteenweg 17, 3080, Tervuren, Belgium.Inagro vzw, Ieperseweg 87, Rumbeke-Beitem, 8800, BelgiumPlant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 96, 9820, Merelbeke, BelgiumChemical and Physical Risks, Service Risk Assessment, Sciensano, Juliete Wytsmanstreet 14, 1050, BelgiumInagro vzw, Ieperseweg 87, Rumbeke-Beitem, 8800, BelgiumInstitute for Nature and Forest, Havenlaan 88, 1000, Brussel, BelgiumSciensano, Leuvensteenweg 17, 3080, Tervuren, BelgiumGhent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, BelgiumThe potential health risks of consuming crops irrigated with microcystin-contaminated water are increasingly recognized. While previous studies demonstrated microcystin accumulation in crops, they do not fully reflect real-world conditions and have data gaps. Moreover, some available studies also obtained data with suboptimal analytical methods.Therefore, this study evaluated microcystin-LR (MC-LR) accumulation in strawberries, carrots, and lettuce under spray and drip irrigation, using a state-of-the-art, validated UHPLC-MS/MS method in a medium-scale setup similar to commercial greenhouse production.MC-LR was detected in the outer and middle leaves of lettuce after spray irrigation. In carrots, only a few replicates showed MC-LR in the greens or taproot, yielding inconclusive results. In strawberries, MC-LR accumulated in the roots, foliage, and fruit after spray irrigation. Additionally, drip irrigation led to MC-LR accumulation in strawberry roots and greens, even though only the roots were directly exposed.The findings suggest that strawberry plants are particularly susceptible to microcystin accumulation when irrigated with contaminated water, highlighting the need for risk mitigation measures.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325001243Irrigation waterMicrocystinHorticultureCyanobacteria
spellingShingle Wannes H.R. Van Hassel
Elise Tardy
Bart Cottyn
Mirjana Andjelkovic
An Decombel
Jeroen Van Wichelen
Julien Masquelier
Andreja Rajkovic
Irrigation-dependent accumulation of microcystin in different crops under mid-scale greenhouse conditions
Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Irrigation water
Microcystin
Horticulture
Cyanobacteria
title Irrigation-dependent accumulation of microcystin in different crops under mid-scale greenhouse conditions
title_full Irrigation-dependent accumulation of microcystin in different crops under mid-scale greenhouse conditions
title_fullStr Irrigation-dependent accumulation of microcystin in different crops under mid-scale greenhouse conditions
title_full_unstemmed Irrigation-dependent accumulation of microcystin in different crops under mid-scale greenhouse conditions
title_short Irrigation-dependent accumulation of microcystin in different crops under mid-scale greenhouse conditions
title_sort irrigation dependent accumulation of microcystin in different crops under mid scale greenhouse conditions
topic Irrigation water
Microcystin
Horticulture
Cyanobacteria
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325001243
work_keys_str_mv AT wanneshrvanhassel irrigationdependentaccumulationofmicrocystinindifferentcropsundermidscalegreenhouseconditions
AT elisetardy irrigationdependentaccumulationofmicrocystinindifferentcropsundermidscalegreenhouseconditions
AT bartcottyn irrigationdependentaccumulationofmicrocystinindifferentcropsundermidscalegreenhouseconditions
AT mirjanaandjelkovic irrigationdependentaccumulationofmicrocystinindifferentcropsundermidscalegreenhouseconditions
AT andecombel irrigationdependentaccumulationofmicrocystinindifferentcropsundermidscalegreenhouseconditions
AT jeroenvanwichelen irrigationdependentaccumulationofmicrocystinindifferentcropsundermidscalegreenhouseconditions
AT julienmasquelier irrigationdependentaccumulationofmicrocystinindifferentcropsundermidscalegreenhouseconditions
AT andrejarajkovic irrigationdependentaccumulationofmicrocystinindifferentcropsundermidscalegreenhouseconditions