Occurrence of deoxynivalenol in durum wheat from Morocco

Eighty one (81) samples of durum wheat collected from seven areas from Morocco (Khmiset, Beni Mellal, Settat, Fès–Meknès, Skhirat–Témara, Tansift-El Haouz and Rabat–Salé) were surveyed for the presence of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON). Samples were extracted with water, the extracts were purified by immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC) columns and DON was then identified and quantified with liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to diode array detection (DAD). Analytical results showed that 9 out of 81 total samples (11.1%) were contaminated with DON. DON levels in positive samples ranged between 65 and 1310 μg/kg. The maximum contamination level of DON (1310 μg/kg) was found in a durum wheat sample from Rabat–Salé area, while the minimum value (65 μg/kg) was registered in a sample from Beni Mellal area. The mean DON level in positive samples was 502.1 ± 40.4 μg/kg. Only one previous work exists on DON contamination in Moroccan wheat samples.