Assessment of Fusarium-Damaged Kernels in Common Wheat in Romania in the Years 2015 and 2016 with Extreme Weather Events.

This article assesses the occurrence of Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDKs) in common wheat (Triticum aestivum) under the influence of environmental factors and extreme weather events in Romania (exceptionally high air temperatures and extreme pedological drought produced by a dipole block in summer 2015, and extreme precipitation and floods produced by an omega block in spring 2016). Wheat samples (N = 272) were analyzed for FDKs via visual estimation and manual weighing according to ISO 7970 and are statistically evaluated using SPSS. The dipole block in 2015 reduced the effects of environmental factors to non-significant correlations with FDKs, while the omega block in 2016 was non-significantly to very significantly correlated with FDKs in the northwestern and western regions. The occurrence of FDKs was favored for wheat cultivation in acidic soils and inhibited in alkaline soils. Wheat samples with FDKs ≥ 1% were sampled from crops grown in river meadows with high and very high risks of flooding. Knowing the contaminants' geographical and spatial distributions under the influence of regular and extreme weather events is important for establishing measures to mitigate the effects of climate change and to ensure human and animal health.

Deoxynivalenol Occurrence in Triticale Crops in Romania during the 2012-2014 Period with Extreme Weather Events.

This article aims to evaluate deoxynivalenol occurrence in triticale crops in Romania in years with extreme weather events (2012: Siberian anticyclone with cold waves and heavy snowfall; 2013 and 2014: "Vb" cyclones with heavy precipitation and floods in spring). The deoxynivalenol level in triticale samples (N = 236) was quantified by ELISA. In Romania, the extreme weather events favoured deoxynivalenol occurrence in triticale in Transylvania and the southern hilly area (44-47°N, 22-25°E) with a humid/balanced-humid temperate continental climate, luvisols and high/very high risk of floods. Maximum deoxynivalenol contamination was lower in the other regions, although heavy precipitation in May-July 2014 was higher, with chernozems having higher aridity. Multivariate analysis of the factors influencing deoxynivalenol occurrence in triticale showed at least a significant correlation for all components of variation source (agricultural year, agricultural region, average of deoxynivalenol, average air temperature, cumulative precipitation, soil moisture reserve, aridity indices) (p-value < 0.05). The spatial and geographic distribution of deoxynivalenol in cereals in the countries affected by the 2012-2014 extreme weather events revealed a higher contamination in Central Europe compared to southeastern and eastern Europe. Deoxynivalenol occurrence in cereals was favoured by local and regional agroclimatic factors and was amplified by extreme weather events.

Post-Harvest Contamination with Mycotoxins in the Context of the Geographic and Agroclimatic Conditions in Romania.

This study aimed to assess post-harvest contamination with mycotoxins in the context of the geographic and agroclimatic conditions in Romania in 2012⁻2015, a period that was characterized by extreme meteorological events and the effects of climate change. The samples were randomly sampled from five agricultural regions of Romania and analyzed for mycotoxins by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An SPSS analysis was done to explore correlations between mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol-DON, aflatoxins-AF, ochratoxin A-OTA, zearalenone-ZEA), product types (raw cereal, processed cereal, cereal-based food), geographic coordinates (latitude, longitude, agricultural region), and agroclimatic factors (air temperature, precipitation, soil moisture reserve, aridity index, soil type). In the southeast part of the Southern Plain and Dobrogea (Baragan Plain, located at 44⁻45° N, 26⁻27° E), contamination with AF and OTA was higher in raw and processed cereals (maize in silo, silo corn germs) in the dry years (2012 and 2013), and contamination with DON was high in processed cereals (wheat flour type 450) in the rainy year (2014). DON and OTA contamination were significantly correlated with cumulative precipitation in all years, while AF and ZEA contamination were non-significantly correlated with climatic factors and aridity indices. The distribution of mycotoxins by product type and the non-robust correlations between post-harvest mycotoxins and agrometeorological factors could be explained by the use of quality management systems that control cereal at warehouse receptions, performant processing technologies, and the quality of storage spaces of agri-food companies. The Baragan Plain is Romania's most sensitive area to the predicted climate change in southeast Europe, which may be associated with its increased cereal contamination with AF and OTA.

Chemical characteristics and source analysis on ionic composition of rainwater collected in the Carpathians "Cold Pole," Ciuc basin, Eastern Carpathians, Romania.

A study of precipitation chemistry was conducted for 11 years (01 January 2006-31 December 2016) in the Ciuc basin, Eastern Carpathians, Romania. The studied area is an enclosed basin, also called "the Carpathians cold pole." All collected samples were analyzed for major cations and anions. HCO3- concentrations were calculated based on the empirical relationship between pH and HCO3-. The multiannual arithmetic mean of pH values was found to be 6.57. The lowest and highest pH values were measured in 2009 and 2013, being 6.57% lower, respectively, 7.57% higher than the multiannual mean. Only 3.31% of the studied rainwater samples indicate acidic character. In descending order, the majority of the samples are as follows: NH4+ >Ca2+ >SO42- >Cl- >HCO3- >NO3- >Na+ >K+ >Mg2+ >NO2- >H+. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed the NH4+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ contribution to the neutralization process and their sources. The anthropogenic origin of SO42- was supported by the high non-sea-salt fraction (NSSF) (~ 91%). The results of this study suggest that rainwater chemistry is strongly influenced by local natural and anthropogenic sources (agricultural activities) rather than marine sources. The pollutants in rainwater samples were mainly derived from calcareous and dolomitic soil dust and specific local climatic conditions, long-range transport, local industry, and traffic sources.