A survey of the cereal contamination with deoxynivalenol in Romania, for 2011 -2013 period [631041]

A survey of the cereal contamination with deoxynivalenol in Romania, for 2011 -2013 period
VALERIA GAGIU1
, ELENA MATEESCU2
, IRINA SMEU1
, ALINA ALEXANDRA DOBRE1
, MIRELA ELENA
CUCU1
, OANA OPREA2
, ENUTA IORGA1
, NASTASIA BELC1

1. National Research&Development Institute for Food B ioresources –IBA Bucharest, 5th Baneasa Ancuta street, 2nd district,
code 020323, Bucharest, Romania
2. National Meteorological Administration (METEO -Romania), 97th Bucharest -Ploiesti street, code 013686, Romania

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E -Mail: [anonimizat] ; Tel/Fax: +4 -031-620-58-33

Abstract
This is the first research on deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in Romanian cereal crops
that combine the time (2011 -2013 ), geographical (41 counties, 6 regions) and measurement (90
weather stations; 1754 cereal samples, 150 cultivars) scales. DON contamination varied between
<18.5-5027.7 μg/kg (2012 crop ) and <18.5-3602.6 μg/kg (2013 crop ). The i ncidence of samples with
DON >1000 μg/kg was 3.4 % (28/831 samples) in 2012 crop , and of 2.4% (22/923 samples) in 2013
crop. The analytical results have shown that contamination of cereals with DON is not a major
problem at national level , but depending on the climatic conditions of each year (abundant or
excessive rainfall 101 -250 L/m2) it could be at regional level (Western Plain: 4958.56 μg/kg and
3602.56 μg/kg, and Transylvania : 4345.7 μg/kg and 3106.44 μg/kg), often local level. The main
factors that influenced grain contamination with DON are considered the climate conditions (in the
critical growing from May to June ), the crop location in potential flood areas (especially for Some s
and Mures rivers ), the high soil water supply (1300 -1600 mc/ha ). For 2011 -2013 years a possible risk
area was the North -Western Romania where the s ynergistic action of meteorological, hydrological
and geographical factors favored the incidence and high levels of DON c ontamination in cereals.
Keywords: deoxynivalenol, cereals, meteorological factors, hydrological factors, geographical
factors, ArcGIS

1. Introduction
Cereal contamination with Fusarium and deoxynivalenol mycotoxin is influenced by the
agron omic factors (M. LINDBLAD & al. [ 1], A. BERNHOFT & al. [ 2]), climate especially at
anthesys (X.M. XU [3], B. ŠKRBIC & al. [ 4], V. GAGIU & al. [5], geographic al (A. BERNHOFT
& al. [ 2]), V. GAGIU & al. [5]) and h ydrologic al factors (V. GAGIU & al. [5]). Fusarium head blight
(FHB ) and grain contamination with DON are affected by the oxygen level, the mechanic breakage
of grains and the presence of fungal spores (J. PLEADIN & al. [6]), the amount of crop residues on
the ground during flowering (A. MAIORANO & al. [7]), the susceptibility of variet ies and fungicide
applications (S.R PIRGOZLIEV & al. [8], H.-J. KOCH & al. [9], K.T. WILLYERD & al. [10]), the
cultivation practices (R. DILL -MAC KY [11]), the speed of drying, the storage errors, and the hot
spots (A. LLORENS & al. [12], J.J. MATEO & al. [13]). The c ereal varieties with moderate
phenotypic resistance are susceptible to DON accumulation, suggesting that in some varieties, the
resistance to FHB can be independent by resistance to DON accumulation (J. HERNANDEZ -NOPSA
& al. [14], E. ARSENIUK & al. [15].
Generally cereal infections occur during anthesis, the stage at which anthers break and pollen
flows (R.N. STRANGE and H. SMITH [16]). Rainfalls rather than quantity are the most critical factor
in Fusarium infection. Heavy rainfalls before anthesis and also during ripening lead to greater
contamination with deoxynivalenol compared to the situation following a dry period after anthesis (J.
HERNANDEZ -NOPSA & al. [14]). The optimum temperature for FHB development is 250C,

regardless of the humidity duration (J.D. MILLER & al. [17]). In wheat, the most harmful infections
occur during flowering or shortly after flowering. Under natural conditions, environmental conditions
(particularly rainfall and duration) can play an important role in determining the amount o f DON
produced compared with the chemotype of pathogen present in a given location (J.D. MILLER [18],
H.-S. KIM & al. [19]).
It is anticipated that climate change will affect the European agriculture , including the risk of
food or feed hazards (L. ELSGAAR D & al. [20], H.J. VAN DER FELS -KLERX & al. [ 21]). An
effective management tool to reduce wheat contamination with FHB and DON involves the
application of multiple integrated strategies , and there have been few studies to assess their
quantitative effect (M. BLANDINO & al. [22]).
There are some reason for concerns on mycotoxins contamination because of the agroclimatic
condition in Romania , in the context of climate change. In Southern Romania the temperature is
foreseen to increase by 4 -50C and water availability will be reduced particularly in the summer; in
Northern Romania temperature is foreseen to increase by 3 -40C and rainfall may increase in winter
and decrease in summer (IPCC [23]). Romania is an important regional producer of wheat , occupying
the third position in the Central Europe after Serbia and Hungary (E. ALEXA & al. [24]. The risk
evaluation of mycotoxins contamination the agrifood and feed chains was performed only by separate
evaluations. For example, f or Western Romania , Curtui & al. [25] analyzed 55 samp les of wheat and
corn for animal consumption (post -harvest 1997) and showed that DON was the major contaminant
in wheat (100%) and corn (46%) . Also , for Western Romania , Alexa & al. [24,26] analyzed 52
samples of grain ( 2011 and 2012 crops), showing that the climatic conditions in Western Plain
favored DON contamination; in 2010 year there were detected 73.08% DON positive samples, with
the maximum concentration of 3390 µg/kg, and in 2011 year there were detected 19.23% D ON
positive samples. For the South -East Romania , Tabuc & al. [27] analyzed 86 samples (corn, wheat,
barley, oats, rye, soybean, sunflower, rape, ric e and triticale) and detected 71.60% DON positive
samples . For Eastern Romania , Banu & al. [28] have detected an incidence of 42.5% DON positive
samples from 80 samples of 2008 crop. Ittu & al. [29] showed that wheat contamination with
deoxynivalenol vary by the location, the year of study and the interaction between genotype and
environment (M. ITTU & al. [30]).
The aim of this article was to determine the cereal contamination with deoxynivalenol under
the influence of meteorological, hydrological and geographical factors in Romania in two consecutive
agricultural years (2011 -2012 and 2012 -2013). Our present work deals with an integrated approach
(analytic control, grain varieties, meteorological factors, hydrological conditions and geographical
location) to effectively control the DON incidence in harvest .

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Cereal samples
Romanian territory is organized in 41 counties and Bucharest, the county being the
administrative territorial unit in our country. Six agricultural regions (West Plain; Transylvania;
Moldavia; Southern Hilly Area; Southern Plain and Dobrogea; Oltenia Plain ) have been created as
non-administrative territorial units.
Cereals were sampled directly off fields immediately after harvest by skilled persons and
according to the Order no. 355/2005 of the Romanian Ministry of A griculture and Rural
Development. Incremental samples (n = 100) were mixed to form a composed sample of 5 kg, packed
in textil bags and sent to laboratory for the deoxynivalenol analysis. Each composed sample is
representative for a surface of 3000 ha.

2.2. Deoxynivalenol analysis
A number of 1 754 cereal samples (common wheat, durum wheat, triticale and rye) were
analyzed , of which: 831 samples of 2012 crop and 923 samples of 2013 crop.

Cereal s amples were ground by a Perten mil (with a 0.1 mm sieve) and DON mycotoxin was
quantified by ELISA method (Ridascreen DON kit and Ridawin software , R-BIOPHARM, Germany )
using a Sunrise spectrophotometer (TECAN, Switzerland ) with an absorbance filter of 450 nm. The
EC Regulation no. 1881/2006 established a maximum limit for DON of 1250 μg/kg for un processed
small -grain cereals for human consumption.

2.3. Meteorological data
Romanian sinoptic network has 90 meteorological MAWS stations with Ceres-wheat and
DSSAT v. 3.5. software and series of historical data since 1961 to present ; 14 meteo stations have
historical data over 100 years . Meteorological data were the monthly averages of the air temperature
and the precipitation of each agricultural year (1 October to 31 August). To determine the influence
of climate parameters on DON contamination, the m aximum values of mean parameters were used.

2.4. Research methodology
For data collection a DON –CLIM (mycotoxins -climate) database in Excel format was made.
Research activities combined the time scale (2 agricultural years, 2011 -2012 and 2012 -2013 ),
the geographical scale (41 counties, 6 agricultural regions of Romania) and the measurement scale
(90 weather stations; 1754 cereal samples of 122 c ultivars).
Data for deoxynivalenol contamination of cereals crops and precipitation amount were
processed a nd graphically represented nationally in GIS (Geographical International Systems).
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Incidence and level of DON contamination in cereals crops r elated to the geographical
locations

For agricultural year 2011 -2012, the incidence of positive samples ( DON> 18.50 μg/kg ) for
Romania was 65 %. T he incidence of DON positive samples was 53 -92% in Northern Romania
(Moldavia 53%, Transylvania 88% and Western Plain 92%) and 26 -56% in Southern Ro mania
(Southern Hilly Area 26% , Southern Plain and Dobrogea 53% and Oltenia Plain 56%). The level of
DON contamination in cereals ranged between <18.5-5027.7 μg/kg, with a mean of 183.7 μg/kg. Of
the analyzed samples, 3.4 % (28 /831 samples ) contained DO N>1000 μg/kg ( 1246.2 -5027.7 μg/kg)
(table 1). The incidence of samples with DON>1000 µg/kg was between 2 -8% in Northern Romania
(Moldavia 1.6%, Transylvania 8.9% and Western Plain 6.4%) and 0.9 -7.5% in Southern Romania
(Southern Hilly Area 7.5% , Southern Plain and Dobrogea 1.0% and Oltenia Plain 0.9%). In all
agricultural regions some counties registered samples with DON>1000 µg/kg (West Plain: Timis
16.7%; Transylvania: Brasov 7.7%, Covasna 8.3%, Hunedoara 14.3%, Mures 15.4%, Maramures
20%, Salaj 25.4%; M oldavia: Bacau 12.5%, Vrancea 9.1%; Southern Hilly Area: Arges 5.9%, Buzau
20%, Gorj 20%; Southern Plain and Dobrogea: Braila 10.4%; Oltenia Plain: Olt 2.3%) (figure 1) .
For agricultural year 2012 -2013, the incidence of positive samples ( DON> 18.50 μg/kg ) for
Romania was 53 %. The i ncidence of DON positive samples was 73 -95% in Northern Romania
(Moldavia 51%, Transylvania 76% and Western Plain 80%) and 29 -38% in Southern Romania
(Southern Hilly Area 34% , Southern Plain and Dobrogea 11%, and Oltenia Plain 24%). The level of
DON contamination in cereals ranged between <18.5 -3602.6 μg/kg, with a mean of 115.1 μg/kg. Of
the analyzed samples, 2.4 % (22/923 samples ) contained DO N>1000 μg/kg ( 1086.22 -3602.56 μg/kg)
(table 1). In 2013, the ma ximum level of DON decr eased with approx. 1500 μg/kg relative to the
previous year (5027.7 μg/kg) . The incidence of samples with DON>1000 µg/kg was between 2.1 –
10.9% in the Northern Romania (Moldavia 2.1%, Transylvania 10.9% and Western Plain 5.9%) and
0% in the Southern Romania . Only in the Northern Romania were registered some counties with
cereal samples with DON>1000 µg/kg (West Plain: Bihor 10.7%, Satu -Mare 33.3%; Transylvania:

Alba 6.7%, Bistrita -Nasaud 66.7%, Maramures 62.5%, Salaj 36.4%; Moldavia: Iasi 4.3%, Suceava
22%) (figure 1).
Related to the previous year, in 2013 the incidence of DON positive samples decreased with
14-18% in the Northern Romania (West Plain and Transylvania regions) and 57 -79% in the Southern
Romania (Southern Plain and Dobrogea, and Oltenia Plain regions). In the North -West Romania the
maximum contamination decreased with approx. 1500 µg/kg and only two neighboring counties
(Salaj and Maramures) recorded cereal samples with DON>1000 µg/kg. For West P lain, Curtui & al.
[25] found 5600 µg/kg D ON contamination of wheat samples under the influence of heavy rainfall
before harvest.

Table 1. Incidence and intervals of deoxynivalenol contamination in cereal crops of Romania, in period 2011 -2013.
Agricultural regions
of Romania 2011 – 2012 cereals crop 2012 – 2013 cereals crop
DON Incidence , %
DON, μg/kg * DON Incidence, %
DON, μg/kg * >18.5
μg/kg >1000 μg/kg >18.5
μg/kg >1000 μg/kg
West Plain 92 6.4%
(7s/110s/53v) <18.5… 289.0 …
1246.2 – 4958.6 80 5.9%
(7s/119s/43v) <18.5 …252.8 …
1172.8 – 3602.6
Transylvania 88 8.9%
(8s/90s/36v) <18.5 …467.5 …
1504.7 – 4345.7 76 10.9%
(12s/110s /45v) <18.5 … 336.4 …
1089.6 – 3106.4
Moldavia 53 1.6%
(2s/128s/53v) <18.5… 113.5 …
2203.8 – 2351.4 51 1%
(3s/144s/43v) <18.5… 165.5 …
1086.2 – 1878.3
Southern Hilly Area 26 7.5 %
(7s/ 94s/34v) <18.5… 300.1 …
1608.9 – 5027.7 34 0%
(0s/111s/34v) <18.5…30.3…
245.6
Southern Plain
and Dobrogea 53 1.0%
(3s/294s/31v) 18.5…92.8…
2933.6 – 4345.7 11 %
(0s/316s/40v) <18.5… 28.2…
360.7
Oltenia Plain 56 0.9%
(1s/115s/25v) <18.5… 72.1…
1304.3 24 0%
(0s/123s/22v) <18.5 …24.8…
92.7
ROMANIA 65 3.4%
(28s/831s/11 5v) <18.5 …183.7 …
1246.2 – 5027.7 53 2.5%
(22s/923s/122v) <18,5… 115,11 …
1086,22 – 3602.6
Note: * low – average – maximum interval of DON contamination .
xs = samples with DON >1000 μg/kg, s = cereal sample s, v = cereal varieties .

Figure 1. Maximum DON levels in cereal crops from Romania n counties and agricultural regions , under the synergistic
action of meteorological, hydrological and geographical factors in 2011 -2013 period . The i ncidence and level of DON
were highest for West Plain (Timis , Bihor and Satu -Mare counties ), Transylvania (Salaj , Maramures, Mures and
Bistrita -Nasaud counties), and Southern Hilly Area (Gorj, Arges and Buzau counties). 0100020003000400050006000
Arad
Bihor
Satu-Mare
Timis
WEST PLAIN
Alba
Bistrita-Nasaud
Brasov
Cluj
Covasna
Harghita
Hunedoara
Maramures
Mures
Salaj
Sibiu
TRANSYLVANIA
Bacau
Botosani
Galati
Iasi
Neamt
Suceava
Vaslui
Vrancea
MOLDAVIA
Arges
Buzau
Caras Severin
Dambovita
Gorj
Prahova
Valcea
SOUTHERN HILLY AREA
Braila
Calarasi
Constanta
Giurgiu
Ialomita
lfov
Teleorman
Tulcea
SOUTHERN PLAIN and…
Dolj
Mehedinti
Olt
OLTENIA PLAIN
ROMANIADeoxynivalenol, µg/kgMaximum levels of deoxynivalenol contamination of cereal crops inRomania , in period 2011 -2013
2011 – 2012 2012 – 2013

A survey from Europe showed a maximum DON contamination of 4130 μg/kg in 2009 (F.
Berthiller & al. [31]). In Bulgaria, the levels of DON in wheat samples recorded 1800 µg/kg (T.
Vrabcheva & al. [32]. In experiments carried out between 2005 and 2008 in the North Italy, Blandino
& al. [33] found a very high DON contamination of cereals from Riva Presso Chieri (12995 µg/kg)
and Sant’Angelo Lodigiano (9310 µg/kg) sites. In China, the incidence of FHB and a very high
contamination of cereals with DON was highly correlated with rain and/or high humidity at anthesis:
41157.1 μg/kg in 2012 year (J.N. SELVARAJ & al. [34]), 4975 μg/kg in 2013 year (L. CUI & al.
[35]) and 41157 µg/kg – Northern Jiangsu, respectively 13510 µg/kg – Central Jiangsu in a three years
survey 2010 –2012 (F. JI & al. [36]).

3.2. Incidence and level of DON contamination in cereal crops r elated to the cereal varieties

DON analysis was performed for 831 samples of 115 varieties (for 2012 crop) and 923
samples of 122 varieties (for 2013 crop) belonging to the common wheat , durum wheat, triticale and
rye.
In 2012 crop, the level of DON contamination in cereals ranged between <18.5 -5027.7 μg/kg
(mean value of 262.67 μg/kg) in common wheat, <18.5 -402.4 μg/kg in durum wheat, <18.5 -3378.4
μg/kg (mean value of 322.45 μg/kg) in triticale and 18.5 -65.6 μg/kg in rye (figure 2). The incidence
of samples with DON>1000 µg/kg was 3.4% (25/ 740 samples ) for common wheat and 4.4% (3/69 )
for triticale.
In 2013 crop, the level of DON contamination in cereals ranged between <18.5 -3602.56 μg/kg
(mean value of 108.2 μg/kg) in common wheat, <18.5 -49.8 μg/kg in durum wheat, <18.5 -3106.4
μg/kg (mean 205 μg/kg; 4/78) in triticale samples and <23 -360.7 μg/kg in rye (figure 2). The
incidence of the samples with DON>1000 µg/kg was 2.38% (18/816 samples) for common wheat,
and 5.13% (4/78 samples) for triticale.
In both agricultural years of Romania , the durum wheat and rye samples showed a very low
contamination with deoxynivalenol mycotoxin (figure 2) .

Figure 2. Deoxynivalenol contamination of cereal categories in Romanian crops in 2011 -2013 period.
Common wheat and triticale ha d the highest DON contamination level (especially in 2012 crop , for all regions) ;
durum wheat and rye samples showed a very low DON contamination.

Cereal samples with DON >1000 μg/kg belonged to the cultivars with a low and medium
resistance to Fusarium sp. attack. The l ow mean DON concentration and the incidence of cereal
samples with DON>1000 μg/kg from a specific cereal variety i ndicate a good resistance to Fusarium 0100020003000400050006000
2011 – 2012 2012 – 2013 2011 – 2012 2012 – 2013 2011 – 2012 2012 – 2013 2011 – 2012 2012 – 2013 2011 – 2012 2012 – 2013
COMMON WHEAT TRITICALE DURUM WHEAT RYE TOTAL CROPDeoxynivalenol, µg/kgMaximum DON levels in the cereal crop , in Romania for agricultural period 2011 -2013
West Plain Transylvania Moldavia Southern Hilly Area Southern Plain and Dobrogea Oltenia Plain ROMANIA

sp. attack of the most culti vated varieties ( wheat cultivars: Alex, Apache, Ariesan, Boema, Ciprian,
Dropia, Exotic, Flamura 85 and Renan; t riticale cultivar s: Haiduc and Titan) . According to M. Ittu &
al. [29,30] research performed in Romania showed that the wheat contamination with deoxynivalenol
vary by the location, the year of study and the interactio n between genot ype and environment. The
resistance of the cereal varieties is an agronomic factor with a semnificativ influence on the
deoxynivalenol contamination level (M. LINDBLAD & al. [1], A. BERNHOFT & al. [ 2], A.
MESTERHAZY & al. [ 37], E.D. VAN ASSELT & al. [ 38], H.J. VAN DER FELS -KLERX & al.
[39], H.J. VAN DER FELS -KLERX & al. [ 40], F. JI & al. [41]).
A survey from Hungary (1991 -1998) recorded a DON contamination of 70 -1560 μg/kg in
wheat (n=367), 50 -580 μg/kg in triticale (n=32) and 120 -490 μg/kg in rye (n=14) ; very few data are
available on DON contamination of triticale (P. RAFAI & al. [42]). In Romania, triticale samples
were highest contaminated with DON mycotoxin in Tra nsylvania region (21.16 -3378.44 µg/kg , mean
of 605.8 µg/kg; 3/19s) in the 2012 crop and (21.91 -3106.44 µg/kg, mean 632.47 µg/kg; 4/18s) in the
2013 crop. V ery low DON contamination of durum wheat was registered also in a Tunisian survey
from 2007 crop (for 65 samples, 7.2 -54 µg/kg) (F. BENSASSI & al. [43]) and Morocco survey (81
samples, not detected -1310 µg/kg) (A. ENNOUARI & al. [44]).

3.3. Deoxynivalenol contamination of cereal crops under the influence of meteorological,
hydrological and geograph ical factors

For 2012 crop , the higher DON levels were correlated with 35 –62% higher amount of
precipitation in May (figure 3), followed by increases of the mean air temperatures with 4.8-6.20C in
June and increases of the heat stress by 2 -11 folds. High, abundant and excessive rainfall d uring the
critical period of vegetation (01 May to 30 June, the earing phase, flowering, grain formation and
filling) are favorable for Fusarium sp. attack and DON production. For 2012 crop, the higher DON
contaminati on was correlated with high (70.0 L/m2), abundant (104.7 –140.4 L/m2) and excessive
(156.5 L/m2) rainfall in May during anthesy s and higher values of the heat stress (93 –233 units) in
June–August that influence Fusarium attack and deoxynivalenol production .
For 2013 crop , rainfall were in high amounts (62.4 –90.9 L/m2) in May for all regions and
abundent amounts (107.3 –144 L/m2) in June for the Trans ylvania and Moldavia (figure 3). These
regions recorded samples with DON>1000 µg/kg.
The maximum DON contamination related to the agricultural regions was lower with 27 -25%
for the Northern Romania and with 92 -95% for t he Southern Romania . This situation of DON
contamination is correlated with 35 -62% decreas ing of the rainfall in May and 3 4-75% increas ing in
June, proving the negative effect of the rainfall amount during anthes is period (figure 3). In two
consecutive years (2011 -2012 and 2012 -2013) in Transylvania region, the maximum DON
contamination levels (3106.4 and 4345.7 µg/kg) and in cidence (8.9 and 10.9%) have been correlated
with the highest values for winter harshness (cold and very cold winter: 705 and 304 coldness units,
respective 705 and 629 frost units), with normal spring values (332 and 382 spring index) and
abundant rainfall (134 and 144 L/m2) in critical growing season of the flowering and ripening of grain
from May to June.
The e ffects of rainfall during the growing and harvesti ng of cereals can be explored by
rainfall cumulation from March -May (spring) and July -August (summer) (H.J. VAN DER FELS –
KLERX & al. [39], L. ELSGAARD & al. [ 20], D.C. HOOKER & al. [45]). Deoxynivalenol
contamination and rainfall data from Romania (2011 -2013) were processed and graphically
represented nationally in GIS (Geo graphical Systems International) , observing there was a correlation
between the counti es with grain samples contaminated with DON >1000 µg/kg and counties with
increase d rainfall s in May (figure 3). GIS maps provide a minimum imput to growers but are too
general as contamination often depends on local agro -meteorological conditions (A.W.
SCHAAFSMA , D.C. HOOKER [46]).
Romanian localities that registered some cereal samples contaminated with DON>100 0
µg/kg are placed on banks of the rivers or their affluents: Bega, Crasna, Barcau; Somes, Mures, Cris;
Jiu, Olt, Arges, Buzau; Suceava; Danube (for 2012 crop) and Somes, Mures, Suceava (for 2013 crop).

a) Romanian counties and agricultural regions that registered cereal samples contaminated with DON>1000 µg/kg
(28/831 samples – 2012 crop; 22/923s – 2013 crop)

b) Romanian counties and agricultural regions that registered ma ximum amounts of rainfall in the critical period of cereal growth (May – June)
Figure 3 . Integration of the deoxynivalenol contamination and the rainfall data in ArcGIS maps, for agricultural years 2011 -2012 and 2012 -2013 .

Somes and Mures rivers are in the first ten rivers of Romania as length and volume. All t hese rivers
and their affluents are mentioned on the map of the areas affected by historically significant floods
(NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION "ROMANIAN WATERS [47]). During the critical growing
period of cereals (May -June), these localities registered high (50 -100 L/m2), abundant (101 –150
L/m2) or excessive (151–250 L/m2) amount of rainfall, the soil water supply was recorded as high
(1300 -1600 mc/ha), and air temperatures were approx. 200C in June. Increasing of rainfall and soil
water supply cause flooding fields and crop anoxia that favor mycotoxin production (M. SERENIUS
& al. [48], P. BATTILANI & al. [ 49]).
Taking into account the meteorological, h ydrological and geographical factors that influenced
the DON contamination of cereal crops in two consecutive years (2011 -2012 and 2012 -2013), it was
considered that the North -Western Romania may be a possible risk area for deoxynivalenol
contamination. Thi s area is placed to t he confluence of West Plain (Bihor and Satu Mare counties)
and Transilvania ( Maramures and Salaj counties) regions. F or 2012 and 2013 crops, the North –
Western Romania is characterized by a maximum DON level of 1375.6 µg/kg and 2671.7 µ g/kg,
DON incidence of 9% and 41.9%; only the Salaj and Maramures counties registered some samples
with DON>1000 µg/kg in both years that are favored by the climate conditions.
The Carpathian Arch acts as a complex barrier in the transport way of air mas ses influencing
the North -Atlantic Oscillation signal, the Mediterranean cyclones and Arctic currents; as a result,
during winter (December to March) the North -Atlantic Oscillation signal is stronger in regions
outside the mountain chain, manifested an inf luence on the average air temperature (Banat region:
Timis and Caras -Severin counties; the North -West Romania : Bihor, Salaj, Maramures, Satu -Mare,
Bistrita -Nasaud and Mures regions). The Mediterranean cyclones affect the South -Western Romania
(Gorj and Dolj counties) and the Arctic currents affect the Northern Moldavia (Suceava, Neamt and
Botosani counties) (A. BUSUIOC & al. [50]). In all these districts were recorded a high incidence of
DON positive samples and samples with DON>1000 µg/kg for the 2012 and 2013 harvests, this
suggests that there is a synergistic effect of winter weather conditions (cold, frost and precipitations )
and the conditions of the critical growing period from May to June (rainfall, temperature and heat
parameters).

4. Conclusions
DON contamination is not a general problem for Romania, but only regional (West Plain,
Transylvania and Moldavia), often local and depend ent on the annual meteorological conditions. The
incidence of samples with DON>1000 μg/kg was very low in two consecutive years (2012 and 2013)
and decreased with aprox. 1500 μg/kg. Synergistic action of meteorological, hydrological and
geographical factors favored the incidence and elevated levels of DON c ontamination of cereals in
the North-Western Romania . Although cultivated areas are small and cereal production is low in this
area, grain contamination with deoxynivalenol can affect the security and food safety, thus
influencing negative the human and animal health. Because the risk mus t be strictly controlled at all
stages of the agri -food chain ( including primary stage ‘’field -post harvest’’), official control system
must be developed and implemented, with a particular emphasis on the potential areas of risk.

Acknowledgments
This work had benefited from financial support through the contract ADER 8.1.1 ./2011 "Risk
evaluation of mycotoxins contamination in the annual wheat crop from Rom ania’’ – the Sectoral Plan
ADER 2020 of the Romanian Ministry of Agricultu re and Rural Develo pment (MA DR).
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