A survey on 120 cereal samples (barley, maize, rice and wheat) from Algerian markets has been carried out to evaluate the presence of 15 mycotoxins (ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1 and B2, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, zearalenone, fusarenon X, citrinin, sterigmatocystin, enniatins A, A1, B and B1, and beauvericin). With this purpose, a QuEChERS-based extraction and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) were used. Analytical results showed that 78 cereal samples (65%) were contaminated with at least one toxin, while 50% were contaminated with three to nine mycotoxins. T-2 toxin, citrinin, beauvericin and deoxynivalenol were the most commonly found mycotoxins (frequency of 50%, 41.6%, 40.8% and 33.3%, respectively). Fumonisins (B1 + B2), enniatins B and B1, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone registered high concentrations (289-48878 µg/kg, 1.2-5288 µg/kg, 15-4569 µg/kg, 48-2055 µg/kg and 10.4-579 µg/kg, respectively). Furthermore, concentrations higher than those allowed by the European Union (EU) were observed in 21, 8 and 1 samples for fumonisins, zearalenone and deoxinivalenol, respectively. As a conclusion, the high levels of fumonisins (B1 + B2) in maize and deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and HT-2 + T-2 toxins in wheat, represent a health risk for the average adult consumer in Algeria. These results pointed out the necessity of a consistent control and the definition of maximum allowed levels for mycotoxins in Algerian foodstuffs. Key Contribution:The study describes the incidence of 15 mycotoxins in 120 Algerian cereal samples (barley, maize, rice and wheat grains) by UHPLC-MS/MS. The results have pointed out the high co-occurrence of mycotoxins, as well as the high concentration (above the maximum allowed concentration) of some mycotoxins legislated in the EU in those cereals, posing a risk for consumers. These results highlight the necessity of establishing maximum levels for mycotoxins in Algeria.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a common crop in Algeria. From 2006 to 2008

No abstract

Fusarium oxysporum is an ubiquitous soil-borne fungus, having a high genetic and ecological diversity with the potential to cause diseases of many crop species of economic interest. Indeed, some strains of F. oxysporum known as pathogens generate common diseases such as wilting, root and crown rot on host plants. Two formae speciales are confined to the tomato: F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (FOL) causing Fusarium wilt, while F. oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) causes Fusarium crown and root rot. The study include 27 strains isolated from the stems, crown and roots of infected tomato plants; to confirm the identity of the fungus, the isolates were identified using analysis based on morphological criteria and sequencing of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF) gene using ef1 and ef2 primers. Twenty three strains belonged to F. oxysporum, three strains to Fusarium solani, and one strain to Fusarium redolens. Tomato seedlings were tested to confirm the pathogenicity of the isolates tested. Pathogenicity test confirmed that twenty two F. oxysporum isolates were pathogenic on tomato and produced crown and root rot typical of F. oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici forma specialis, while one strain initially identified as F. oxysporum did not induce disease symptoms and is considered as non-pathogenic. Additionally, no symptoms of Fusarium wilt were observed at all; therefore no strains can be affiliated to F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici forma specialis.

This work was inspired by the growing international interest in the study of natural products of plant origin with bioactive properties that can replace synthetic chemical pesticides in the control of pathogens. The aim of this study was to explore the in vitro activity of Lanvandula dentata L. essential oil (EO) on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL), a dangerous fungal plant pathogen, causal agent of tomato crown and root rot. Initially, we proceeded to identify the forma specialis of two strains of F. oxysporum by PCR based on the differences in the genes responsible for the synthesis of endo-polygalacturonases (pg1) and exo-polygalacturonases (pgx4) and then tested the activity of the EO on these strains by the direct contact method at different concentrations. The results showed that increasing the concentration of EO had a significant inhibitory effect, with a minimum inhibition rate of 49.3±2.2 % and 21.8±4.2 for the strains IB19501 and IB19502 respectively at the 0.25 μL/mL concentration and reaching 100±0.0 at the 1 μL/mL concentration for both strains. The data of this study reveal an important anti-fungal activity of the EO of L. dentata, these effects further validate the interest of our study and the traditional use of this plant, while indicating the possibilities of its potential use as a natural alternative to pesticides for the control of pathogenic fungi and thus preserve human health and the environment.