Correlation and variability between weighing, counting and analytical methods to determine ergot (Claviceps purpurea) contamination of grain

Ergot alkaloid mycotoxins produced by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, are contaminants of cereal crops and grasses. The objectives of this study were to determine the correlation between number of ergot sclerotia and weight compared to the total ergot alkaloid concentration, to evaluate the effect of grinding process (i.e. particle size (PS)) on ergot alkaloid analysis using high performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry, and to determine the impact of sample volume on analytical variability. This study demonstrated that correlations exist between both ergot sclerotia count (R2=0.7242, P<0.001) and ergot sclerotia weight (R2=0.9618, P<0.001) compared to the total alkaloid concentration of 6 ergot alkaloids. However, at alkaloid ergot concentrations below 350 µg/kg grain, ergot sclerotia count (R2=0.0002, P=0.956) and ergot sclerotia weight (R2=0.0064, P=0.769) were not correlated to the total alkaloid concentration. A lower variability (P=0.041), defined by coefficient of variation (CV),...