Investigation on the presence of mycotoxins in seed hemp varieties

Abstract

In recent years, the cultivation of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) in Europe has aroused interest among farmers for the potential market opportunities of its products; its cultivation has increased from 20,450 ha in 2015 to 33,020 ha in 2022. Thanks to the great versatility of this crop, there are opportunities in the food and nutraceutical fields (gluten free), cosmetics, energy and industrial sectors. As for several crops, hemp seeds may also be contaminated by fungal pathogens compromising its quality and safety. Considering the recent interest of consumers in using hemp for food purposes, in the present work, a small survey on mycotoxin contamination was carried out during 2018–2022 in hemp seed samples cultivated in Italy for food use. The results showed a limited occurrence of the most common regulated mycotoxins (aflatoxins [AFs], fumonisins [FBs], ochratoxin A [OTA], deoxynivalenol [DON] and zearalenone), but very high levels of alternariols, reaching a maximum value of 38510, 308, 226 and 288 ug/kg for tenuazonic acid [TeA], tentoxin [TEN], alternariol [AOH] and alternariol monoether, respectively. In the same period, an investigation carried out in an experimental field showed that fungal contamination and mycotoxin occurrence were influenced by different meteorological conditions and different varieties.

Keywords:

• Cannabis sativa
• mycotoxins
• Fusarium spp
• Alternaria spp
• survey

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Stefania Mascheroni, Mirko Carrara and Andrea Bossi for their precious help and cooperation in the laboratory work.

Author contributions

Conceptualisation, C.L, S.L, P.G and T.B.; Methodology, P.G, T.B, G.B, G.L., M.M and I.A.; Software, P.G.; Validation, G.B., G.L., M.M and I.A.; Formal analysis, G.B. and G.L.; Investigation, I.A., M.M., T.B.; Resources, P.G, M.M, C.L.; Data curation, P.G., S.L., and T.B.; Writing—original draft preparation, C.L, P.G, T.B., I.A., M.M. G.L. and S.L.; Writing—review and editing, C.L. G.P. and T.B.; Visualisation, C.L. and S.L; Supervision, T.B, I.A.; Project administration, C.L. and S.L.; Funding acquisition, C.L.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was undertaken with the financial assistance of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry-Masaf as part of the following research project MAIDET – Metodi analitici innovativi per la determinazione del THC in matrici vegetali. D.M. 34176/7303/2017 del 29/12/2017.