Deoxynivalenol in hard red winter wheat: relationship between toxin levels and factors that could be used in grading

A study was made of deoxynivalenol (DON) incidences and levels in 1982 hard red winter (HRW) wheat grown in areas of Nebraska and Kansas known to have scabby wheat. Samples of wheat harvested in the areas were collected from elevators and analyzed for DON by gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. Of the 161 samples analyzed, 42% contained less than or equal to 1 ppm; 68% contained less than or equal to 2 ppm; 90% contained less than or equal to 4 ppm. There were differences in the occurrence of DON in the 5 areas identified in eastern Nebraska and Kansas. The mean level of DON decreased from north to south in these areas in the following order: 2.81, 2.73, 2.05, 1.52, and 0.83 ppm. An area in north central Kansas had a mean level of DON of 0.50 ppm. Correlations were made between DON incidences and levels in HRW wheat and factors used in grading wheat. The occurrence of DON was highly correlated with percent total kernels damaged by mold, percent total defects, and percent total scab damage.