Fast and easy liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method for evaluation of postharvest fruit safety by determination of mycotoxins: Fumitremorgin C and verruculogen

• Published in: Postharvest biology and technology Vol. 131; pp. 46 - 54
• Main Authors: Fornal, Emilia, Parfieniuk, Ewa, Czeczko, Renata, Bilinska-Wielgus, Nina, Frac, Magdalena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.09.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Analytical methods; Chromatography; Dextrose; Environmental monitoring; Food contamination & poisoning; Food quality; Food safety; Fruit contamination; Fruits; Fungi; Heat resistant fungi; Liquid chromatography; Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Mycotoxin; Mycotoxins; Neosartorya; Potatoes; Spectroscopy; Toxins; Fruit contamination; Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method; Neosartorya; Heat resistant fungi; Mycotoxin
• ISSN: 0925-5214; 1873-2356
• DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2017.05.004

[Display omitted] •Six-minute LC–MS/MS method is developed for fumitremorgin C and verruculogen.•MS-fragmentation of fumitremorgin C and verruculogen ions is discussed.•Forty five environmental heat-resistant N. fischeri strains are examined.•Production of fumitremorgin C and verruculogen is monitored.•Fumitremorgin C and verruculogen content in strawberries is examined. Fumitremorgin C and verruculogen are mycotoxins produced by heat-resistant Neosartorya fischeri. Easy and fast monitoring of their production by selective and sensitive analytical methods is crucial for ensuring postharvest quality of fruit, food safety, and thus human health and well-being. A six-minute liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method (LC/MS/MS) was developed for quantification of fumitremorgin C and verruculogen in potato dextrose broth (PDB), strawberry juice, strawberry fruit, and soil. Mycotoxins were extracted from all media with the QuEChERS (Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe) method. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of the method for both mycotoxins was 1μgL−1 for PDB and strawberry juice and 1μgkg−1 for strawberry fruit and soil. Collision-induced dissociation of protonated fumitremorgin C and verruculogen ions was also examined by high-resolution mass spectrometry to assist researchers in non-targeted screening for mycotoxins and in identification of these two toxins. The developed LC/MS/MS method was applied to examine mycotoxin production by 45 environmental Neosartorya strains: 5 well-known strains, included in the study as reference strains, and 40 strains that were newly isolated and identified by us.