The aim of this work was to study the spatial variability of ochratoxin A (OTA) in vineyards and to define a reliable sampling protocol for bunches in order to assess OTA content before harvesting. In 2002, two vineyards with ‘Negroamaro’ and ‘Sangiovese’ grape varieties were chosen in Southern Italy. The same sampling design was applied to both vineyards. Ten plants were collected from the X-shaped path of the whole vineyard (plants 1 through 10) and 10 plants from the two central cross-perpendicular lines (plants 11 through 20). Bunches harvested from plants 1 through 10 were numbered progressively, weighed, and crushed separately, and bunches obtained from plants 11 through 20 were crushed plant by plant. Juices obtained were analyzed for OTA content by high-performance liquid chromatography. Then, a simulated approach for sampling was applied, following randomized and systematic designs. High and random variability was observed in OTA content both among bunches and among plants in the two vineyards, independent of contamination level. Simulated sampling design markedly influenced the assessment of must contamination. The best results were obtained when sampling involved one bunch per plant, in a predefined position, from at least 10 plants. Estimated means, obtained with different sampling designs, did not differ significantly from calculated mean OTA content. If the true contamination in a vineyard is 2 μg kg−1, the limit fixed in Europe for OTA content in must and wine, the range of OTA content assessed sampling one bunch in the central position of 10 plants should lie between 2.9 and 1.4. The accuracy could be considered acceptable.
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Research Article|
April 01 2006
Spatial Distribution of Ochratoxin A in Vineyard and Sampling Design To Assess Must Contamination
PAOLA BATTILANI;
PAOLA BATTILANI
*
1Istituto di Entomologia e Patologia Vegetale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29100 Piacenza, Italy
* Author for correspondence. Tel: +39 0523 599254; Fax: +39 0523 599256; E-mail: paola.battilani@unicatt.it.
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CARLO BARBANO;
CARLO BARBANO
1Istituto di Entomologia e Patologia Vegetale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29100 Piacenza, Italy
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VITTORIO ROSSI;
VITTORIO ROSSI
1Istituto di Entomologia e Patologia Vegetale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29100 Piacenza, Italy
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TERENZIO BERTUZZI;
TERENZIO BERTUZZI
2Istituto di Scienze degli Alimenti e della Nutrizione, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29100 Piacenza, Italy
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AMEDEO PIETRI
AMEDEO PIETRI
2Istituto di Scienze degli Alimenti e della Nutrizione, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29100 Piacenza, Italy
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J Food Prot (2006) 69 (4): 884–890.
Article history
Received:
August 11 2005
Accepted:
November 10 2005
Citation
PAOLA BATTILANI, CARLO BARBANO, VITTORIO ROSSI, TERENZIO BERTUZZI, AMEDEO PIETRI; Spatial Distribution of Ochratoxin A in Vineyard and Sampling Design To Assess Must Contamination. J Food Prot 1 April 2006; 69 (4): 884–890. doi: https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X-69.4.884
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