R. Karami-Osboo - Mycotoxins Research Laboratory, Plant Pests and Diseases Research Institute, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
M. Mirabolfathi - Mycotoxins Research Laboratory, Plant Pests and Diseases Research Institute, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
F. Aliakbari - Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Deoxynivalenol contamination was determined in corn produced in Golestan and Ardabil (Moqan) Provinces, Iran, in ۲۰۰۴-۲۰۰۵. Samples were collected from different stages of production, including before harvest, at harvest, post harvest as well as after drying. Ground sub samples were extracted with water; each extracted sample was cleaned up through an immunoaffinity column. Deoxynivalenol was estimated through reversed-phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The linearity of standard curve for ۵۰ -۱۰,۰۰۰ ng ml-۱ of standard solutions was proved (R۲= ۰.۹۹۹۹). Detection limit was ۱۰ ng g-۱. Recovery of the method for ۱,۰۰۰ and ۵۰۰ ng g-۱ spiked samples was ۷۳.۵% and ۹۳.۵% (n= ۵). Deoxynivalenol contamination was found in ۷۶.۷% of samples in the range of ۵۴.۴-۵۱۸.۴ ng g-۱. The mean of contamination was ۱۱۶.۲۵ ng g-۱. This is the first report of natural DON contamination of corn from Iran.

IRAN, Corn, Deoxynivalenol, HPLC, Natural contamination