Quantification of Tri5 gene, expression, and deoxynivalenol production during the malting of barley

Fusarium can survive, grow, and produce mycotoxins during malting. We evaluated the percentage of barley kernels infected with Fusarium (FI) and deoxynivalenol (DON) concentration in three barley treatments (high-quality, naturally infected, and Fusarium graminearum inoculated barley) during various stages of malting. We also applied real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) and real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (real-time RT-PCR) methods to quantify trichothecene-producing (Tri5) DNA concentration and expression, respectively. We observed that FI significantly (P < 0.05) increased during the germination stage of malting in all barley treatments. Temperatures of 49 °C and higher during kilning reduced the FI in high-quality barley treatments, but for inoculated treatments temperatures in excess of 60 °C were needed to reduce FI. The Tri5 DNA concentration ranged from non-detectable to 3.9 ng/50 mg, 0.1 to 109.8 ng/50 mg and 3.4 to 397.5 ng/50 mg in malted high-quality, inoculated and naturally infected barley treatments respectively. Strong gene expression (Tri5) in naturally infected barley treatments was found during the third day of germination, when compared to high-quality and inoculated barley treatments during malting. Deoxynivalenol was present even at high kilning temperatures, as DON is heat stable. The average DON concentration ranged from non-detectable to 0.1 μg/g, non-detectable to 1.1 μg/g, and 1.5 to 45.9 μg/g during various stages of malting in high-quality, inoculated and infected barley and malt samples respectively. Overall, the last 2 days of germination and initial stages of kilning were peak stages for FI, Tri5 gene production, Tri5 gene expression and DON production.

► Fusarium survival and growth during malting of barley.
► Fusarium infection and deoxynivalenol reduced during steeping.
► Highest Tri5 gene expression during third day of germination.
► Deoxynivalenol production peaked during germination and initial hours of kilning.