Table 2.
Incidences (%) and concentrations (mean, mean positive, median, minimum, maximum; µg/kg) of DON, DON3G, 3+15-AcDON, ZEN, α- and β-ZEL in forage maize samples of four different cultivars (Cv I–IV). Different letters describe significant differences (p ≤ 0.05). (i) between cultivars within the same mycotoxin (capital letters) and (ii) between the several mycotoxins within the same cultivar (small letters). n = 120.
| Cv a | Mycotoxin | Incidence (%) b | Mean (µg/kg) c |
Mean Positive (µg/kg) d | Median (µg/kg) c |
Min–Max (µg/kg) |
Samples ≥Guidance Value (%) e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Cv I” (n = 30) | DON | 100 | 2486 Aa | 2486 | 1651 | 466–10,972 | 13 (4/30) |
| DON3G | 100 | 507 ABb | 507 | 300 | 119–1911 | − g | |
| 3+15-AcDON | 100 | 472 ABb | 472 | 281 | 29–1837 | − g | |
| ZEN | 100 | 785 Ab | 785 | 621 | <CCβ–2334 | 53 (16/30) | |
| α-ZEL | 70 | 64 Ac | 92 | 26 | <CCα–423 | − g | |
| β-ZEL | 53 | n.a f | n.a f | n.a f | <CCα–163 | − g | |
| “Cv II” (n = 30) | DON | 100 | 2673 Aa | 2673 | 1778 | 467–9305 | 13 (4/30) |
| DON3G | 100 | 776 Ab | 776 | 511 | 112–3038 | − g | |
| 3+15-AcDON | 100 | 655 Ab | 655 | 524 | 112–2049 | − g | |
| ZEN | 100 | 1055 Ab | 1055 | 558 | 124–3076 | 53 (16/30) | |
| α-ZEL | 57 | 44 Ac | 78 | 26 | <CCα–188 | − g | |
| β-ZEL | 30 | n.a f | n.a f | n.a f | <CCα–118 | − g | |
| “Cv III” (n = 30) | DON | 100 | 2054 ABa | 2054 | 1414 | <CCβ–9638 | 7 (2/30) |
| DON3G | 100 | 526 ABb | 526 | 328 | 95–1286 | − g | |
| 3+15-AcDON | 93 | 559 ABb | 599 | 378 | <CCα–2087 | − g | |
| ZEN | 93 | 666 Ab | 714 | 397 | <CCα–2881 | 43 (13/30) | |
| α-ZEL | 57 | 31 Ac | 55 | 26 | <CCα–199 | − g | |
| β-ZEL | 23 | n.a f | n.a f | n.a f | <CCα–119 | − g | |
| “Cv IV” (n = 30) | DON | 100 | 1449 Ba | 1449 | 991 | <CCβ–7104 | 3 (1/30) |
| DON3G | 100 | 339 Bb | 339 | 253 | 100–795 | − g | |
| 3+15-AcDON | 93 | 378 Bb | 405 | 267 | <CCα–2237 | − g | |
| ZEN | 90 | 768 Ab | 886 | 225 | <CCα–3910 | 33 (10/30) | |
| α-ZEL | 53 | 36 Ac | 68 | 26 | <CCα–324 | − g | |
| β-ZEL | 20 | n.a f | n.a f | n.a f | <CCα–203 | − g |
a Cv = Cultivar. b Percentage of positive samples (≥CCα/total samples). c For calculation, concentrations below CCα were set to zero, whereas concentrations between CCα and CCβ were set to CCβ. d Only positive samples were considered. For calculation, concentrations <CCβ were set to CCβ. e Guidance values for DON (5000 µg/kg) and ZEN (500 µg/kg) in complementary and complete feeding stuffs [27]. n.a f = not applicable. – g = Guidance value not available. CCα = detection limit. CCβ = detection capability. DON = deoxynivalenol; DON3G = deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside; 3+15-AcDON = sum of 3- and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol; ZEN = zearalenone; α-ZEL = α-zearalenol; β-ZEL = β-zearalenol. Note: The significance conclusions are based on log-transformed mycotoxin concentrations due to the skewed distribution of the measured values.