Relationship between low amylograph viscosity values and Fusarium-toxin contamination in wheat grains

Abstract

The wheat grains with low amylographic viscosity values generally occurred under condition of high humidity after maturing stage of the developing wheat plant. Because Fusarium graminearum causes a disease (Fusarium blight or scab) of preharvest wheat and subsequently contaminates the grains with mycotoxins under similar environments, a relationship between the low amylographic viscosity values and the Fusarium-toxin contamination in wheat grains might be suspected. Therefore, in order to clarify on this problem, 36 imported and 16 domestic wheat samples were analysed for their maximum viscosity values and the amounts of two Fusarium-toxins, deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV), which are most potent natural contaminants among numerous Fusarium-toxins. The results showed no significant relationship between the low amylographic viscosity values and the amounts of DON and NIV contamination in the wheat samples examined.