Quantitative PCR (qPCR) for estimating the presence of and its mycotoxins in barley grains.

Members within the species complex (FSAMSC) are able to produce mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), zearalenone (ZEN) and enniatins (ENNs) in food products. Consequently, alternative methods for assessing the levels of these mycotoxins are relevant for quick decision-making. In this context, qPCR based on key mycotoxin biosynthetic genes could aid in determining the toxigenic fungal biomass, and could therefore infer mycotoxin content. The aim of this study was to verify the use of qPCR as a technique for estimating DON, NIV, ENNs and ZEN, as well as () and in barley grains. For this purpose, 53 barley samples were selected for mycobiota, mycotoxin and qPCR analyses. ENNs were the most frequent mycotoxins, followed by DON, ZEN and NIV. 83% of the samples were contaminated by and 51% by . Pearson correlation analysis showed significant correlations for /15-ADON with DON, with ENNs, /15-ADON and with as well as and /NIV with . Based on the results, qPCR could be useful for the assessment of presence, and therefore, provide an estimation of its mycotoxins' levels from the same sample.