Caratteristiche qualitative e presenza di micotossine in grano duro infetto da Fusarium spp.

Two durum wheat cultivars (Duilio and Simeto) were subjected to different Fusarium spp. infection levels. The seeds and semolina samples were analysed for some quality characteristics. The milled fractions (semolina and bran) of different samples were analysed for deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) mycotoxins. Quality characteristics of the contaminated seeds and semolina samples did not show relevant evidence of poor quality related to Fusarium spp. seed infection degree. Semolina samples showed to be contaminated more by DON than by ZEN; toxins levels were always higher in bran samples rather than in semolina. A good correlation between desease severity infection and mycotoxins levels was found