OCCURRENCE OF DEOXYNIVALENOL AND FUSARIUM-GRAMINEARUM IN ARGENTINEAN WHEAT

During the 1993 harvest period there was a high incidence of Fusarium head blight in wheat in Argentina. Fusarium species that produce trich othecenes in wheat have been reported in several countries including A rgentina. Several studies have shown that F. graminearum and deoxyniva lenol (DON) were the main contaminants defected in wheat and by-produc ts in Argentina. The objective of this study was to evaluate the occur rence of Fusarium spp. and DON contamination in wheat from Cordoba, Ar gentina during the 1993/94 harvest season. F. graminearum was the main Fusarium species isolated. From 40 samples analysed, 80% showed DON c ontamination. The levels of DON found ranged between 300 and 4500 mu g /kg. There was goad correlation between F. graminearum and DON contami nation. Only five samples showed levels of DON higher than those estab lished in the guidelines in Canada and the USA for food and feedstuffs .