World Mycotoxin Journal, November 2011; 4 (4): 395-404 Wageningen Academic Publisher s ISSN 1875-0710 print, ISSN 1875-0796 online, DOI 10.3920/WMJ2011.1297 395 1. Introduction Common (soil) fungi such as Fusarium spp., which occur in the field, can attack small grains, especially at time of flowering when the weather conditions are favourable for the development of fungi. When the moulds strike, the plant produces an antidote to get rid of the fungi and, in turn, the fungi produces the metabolites in the grain that become toxic in this way for animals and humans (Bottalico and Perrone, 2002; Eriksen and Pettersson, 2004; Thuvander et al., 1999; Visconti et al., 1991). The deterioration is triggered by the formation of a large group of chemically related compounds named trichothecenes (Eriksen, 2003). In this group there is, besides T-2 and HT-2 toxin (T-2, HT-2), the most important mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV) and zearalenone (ZEA). Of these Fusarium toxins DON is the marker and the most common although often in co-occurrence with ZEA and T-2 (Mankeviciene et Acoustic sensing of deoxynivalenol in co-occurrence with zearalenone and T-2/HT-2 toxin in winter wheat cultivar Sirvinta from Lithuania G. Juodeikiene 1 , L. Basinskiene 1 , D. Vidmantiene 1 , E. Bartkiene 2 , B. Bakutis 2 and V. Baliukoniene 2 1 Kaunas University of Technology, Department of Food Technology, Radvilenu pl. 19, 50245 Kaunas, Lithuania; 2 Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Veterinary Academy, Department of Food Safety and Animal Hygiene, Tilzes g. 18, 47181 Kaunas, Lithuania; grazina.juodeikiene@ktu.lt Received: 8 March 2011 / Accepted: 21 July 2011 © 2011 Wageningen Academic Publishers Abstract A fast acoustic screening method in combination with an ELISA method was applied for the detection of deoxynivalenol (DON) in co-occurrence with some trichothecenes such as zearalenone (ZEA) and T-2/HT-2 toxins in winter wheat grains (Triticum aestivum L.) of the most popular Lithuanian cultivar Sirvinta. Strong correlations between the amplitude of the acoustic signal that penetrated the wheat samples and DON as well as total amount of mentioned trichothecenes quantified by ELISA method were found (R 2 =0.787 and R 2 =0.794, respectively). It turned out that weak correlations between the acoustic signal and the concentrations of ZEA and T-2/HT-2 were found. These correlations suggest that DON is the marker of the Fusarium infected wheat grain. This statement is also strengthened by the fact that DON is the most significant trichothecene contaminant of cereal grains in the world and levels are generally higher in the wetter climates. The dependency determined between the acoustic signal and structural physical characteristics (1000-kernel-weight) of the grain matrix could therefore be the basis for the developed rapid acoustic method for cereal quality and safety control. Additional examination of microstructure of wholesome and Fusarium-affected kernels under the scanning electron microscope revealed that obvious damage to the starch granules and lack of protein matrix was caused by the increase in several enzyme activities in the infected grains. Moderate positive relationships between α-amylase, protease and xylanase activities, and the degree of Fusarium infection were found (for α-amylase R 2 =0.623, for protease R 2 =0.823, and for xylanase R 2 =0.682). An intriguing characterisation may contribute to explanations as to how and to what extent wheat starch granules of different sizes stay more or less intact by slightly infected grains while the wheat starch granules are damaged and/ or completely destroyed by seriously infected grains. The changes of the protease activity had a slightly detectable influence on the crude protein content in seriously infected grain samples which might have an effect on dough properties and the quality of bread. Keywords: Fusarium, cereals, rapid analysis, microstructure, enzymatic activity http://www.wageningenacademic.com/doi/pdf/10.3920/WMJ2011.1297 - Tuesday, January 16, 2018 2:20:12 PM - Queen's University of Belfast IP Address:143.117.16.36