Occurrence of zearalenone-4-β-D-glucopyranoside in wheat

An LC-MS method was developed for the analysis of zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside and zearalenone in wheat (Triticum aestivum). The limit of determination for zearalenone-4-beta-Dglucopyranoside and zearalenone, was 10 mug/kg. The recovery rates were calculated to be 69% and 89% at a concentration of 100 mug/kg for zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside and zearalenone, respectively. Twenty-four Bavarian wheat samples from a 1999 harvest were analyzed. Zearalenone was present in 22 of 24 field samples, the levels ranged from 11 to 860,mug/kg. Zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside, was found in 10 of the zearalenone positive samples (42%) at levels ranging from 17 to 104 mug/kg. The amounts of zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside were correlated to those of zearalenone (r(2) = 0.86, b = 0.10). After gastrointestinal hydrolyzation, zearalenone-4-beta-glucopyranoside might be implicated in the development of a zearalenone-syndrome. Therefore, more attention should be focused on conjugated mycotoxins in food and feed.