Elsevier

Talanta

Volume 97, 15 August 2012, Pages 298-302
Talanta

Application of near infrared spectroscopy technology for the detection of fungicide treatment on durum wheat samples

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2012.04.034Get rights and content

Abstract

The feasibility of Near Infrared Spectroscopy to detect fungicide treatment on wheat samples was assessed. A total of 213 durum wheat samples from four different trial sites in Andalusia (southern Spain), with different agroclimatic conditions (soil, temperature, rainfall) were selected for been analyzed on VIS+NIR (400 nm–2500 nm) and NIR (1100 nm–2500 nm). Different mathematical pre-treatment on the signal (scatter correction and derivatives) were evaluated for their discrimination accuracies. Using MPLS, the selected models obtained 84% of well classified samples.

Highlights

► NIR as a durum wheat fungus infection detector. ► Discrimination between samples with fungus treatment. ► Capability of NIR to discriminate with an accuracy of 84% of well classification.

Introduction

Durum wheat is an important crop in the Mediterranean area. The main uses are in human food products, like bread, pasta and couscous [1].

Andalusia is the leading region producing durum wheat in Spain. It contributes more than 74% of the total national production [2].

Wheat genotypes, agronomics conditions and fertility inputs are the foremost factors determining durum wheat yield and quality characteristics [3]. Nevertheless, an important bounding aspect of durum wheat is the damage caused by diseases. Two of the most important are, above all, leaf rust and septoria leaf spot (incited by Puccinia triticina and Septoria tritici, respectively). Plant diseases are greatly influenced by environmental factors, including known stresses as deficiencies of essential nutrients and/or toxicities of other mineral elements [4]. Modifications in cultural practices, such as direct sowing, use of Nitrogen fertilizers and irrigation, may contribute to an increase on the disease severity [5]. Puccinia triticina is the most common rust of wheat. It has affected wheat for thousands of years. Yield losses in wheat from Puccinia triticina infections are usually the result of decreased numbers of kernels per head and lower kernel weights [6].

Methods used to fight fungal diseases and in the development of new fungicides in cereals, are based on etiological and epidemiological knowledge. The presence of a particular fungal disease is related to the degree of susceptibility of the variety, presence of inoculum, plant phenological status and climatological factors, especially those associated with humidity [7].

When infective fungus parts get accumulated on the grain surface; enzymes destroy proteins, starch granules and grain cell walls [8].

Nowadays, consumers are more conscious of eating high quality products free of toxic agents. Increased food scrutiny requires the development of improved and more readily available analytical methods for food products authentication and detection of contaminant [9], [10], [11], [12]. Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used for the determination and quantification of proximate quality parameters on food (protein, fat, sugar) and for the recognition of transgenic foods [13].

The objective of this work was to evaluate NIR technology to detect differences between durum wheat seed samples coming from plants which have been treated with fungicide and those coming from non treated plants, using discrimination models.

Section snippets

Experimental design

All the durum wheat samples came from trials carried out on randomised complete block designs with four replications. It is the most common design used in field trials. Crop management on trials was the standard used by farmers on the area. Experimental plots were 12 m2 (10 m×1.20 m).

Wheat samples

The 213 wheat samples from the 27 durum wheat varieties were provided by the Andalusia Network of Agrarian Experimentation (RAEA), managed by the Andalusian Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IFAPA).

Prior analysis

When Fungus leave infection is produced early in the season, often prevents the development of the grain. When foliar fungus infection appear, the photosynthesis area decreases which normally means a drop in the amount of protein, starch and kernels size and weight. However, once the grain has been filled, and subsequently infection occurs, its size will not be affected, even the color and appearance.

Fig. 2 represent the mean spectra [log 1/R] of T and O samples. In the 1200–1318 nm, 1440–1880 nm

Conclusions

The results obtained in this study showed that the application of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy could be a useful and fast method to use for the assessment of fungicide treatment on durum wheat. We developed a model using 158 samples of durum wheat seeds coming from plants with and without fungicide treatment. This model displayed an accuracy of 84%. These results were obtained using samples from only one crop season. Currently we are in the process of obtaining models applied to

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