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Predicting Scab, Vomitoxin, and Ergosterol in Single Wheat Kernels Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

July 1999 Volume 76 Number 4
Pages 573 — 576
F. E. Dowell , 1 , 2 M. S. Ram , 3 and L. M. Seitz 1

Agricultural Engineer and Research Chemist, respectively, USDA ARS Grain Marketing and Production Research Center, Manhattan, KS 66502. Names are necessary to report factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of the name by the USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable. Corresponding author. E-mail: fdowell@usgmrl.ksu.edu Research associate, Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506.


Go to Article:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/CCHEM.1999.76.4.573
Accepted April 23, 1999.
ABSTRACT

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to detect scab damage and estimate deoxynivalenol (DON) and ergosterol levels in single wheat kernels. Results showed that all scab-damaged kernels identified by official inspectors were correctly identified by NIRS. In addition, this system identified more kernels with DON than did a visual inspection. DON and ergosterol were predicted with standard errors of ≈40 and 100 ppm, respectively. All samples with visible scab had single kernels with DON levels >120 ppm, and some kernels contained >700 ppm of DON. This technology may provide a means of rapidly screening samples for potential food safety and quality problems related to scab damage.


This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc., 1999.