ABSTRACT
The mycoflora of 3 hybrids of freshly harvested corn grains collected from three regions of the state of São Paulo, Brazil (Assis, Capão Bonito and Ribeirão Preto) was investigated. A total of 66 samples were analyzed focusing on the influence of abiotic factors (moisture content, water activity, temperature and rainfall) on both the prevalence of Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium moniliforme, and the ability of these genera isolates to produce aflatoxins and fumonisins, respectively. In the three surveyed regions, the fungal population comprised mainly Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp. and 2 others filamentous fungal genera, which were isolated from corn kernels showing water activity of 0.30 to 0.99 and moisture content of 5.0(per cent) to 20.2(per cent). Among the genera Fusarium and Aspergillus, the most frequent species were F. moniliforme and A. flavus, respectively. Concerning the toxigenic potential of F. moniliforme, all isolated strains (40) produced fumonisins at 20 mg/g to 2168 mg/g (FB1) and/or 10 mg/g to 380 mg/g (FB2). From the 10 A. flavus isolates, 6 strains (60.0 per cente) produced aflatoxins at 615 mg/kg to 30.750 mg/kg (AFB1) and/or 11 mg/kg to 22 mg/kg (AFB2).
Subject(s)
Aflatoxins , Aspergillus flavus , Fusarium , In Vitro Techniques , Zea mays , Food Analysis/methodsABSTRACT
Twenty three samples, belonging to 19 corn cultivars with distinct types of germoplasms, endosperm and length of vegetative cycle, were analyzed for fumonisins B1 and B2. The cultivars were grown in experimental fields in three locations (Votuporanga, Ribeirão Preto and Capão Bonito) within the State of São Paulo, Brazil, during the 97/98 crop. All samples were contaminated with fumonisins with concentrations ranging from 1.63 µg/g to 25.69 µg/g with an average of 5.61 µg/g for FB1 and from 0.38 µg/g to 8.60 µg/g with an average of 1.86 µg/g for FB2. In terms of fumonisins, these high levels put the corn cultivated in São Paulo among the most contaminated in the world reported to date.
Vinte e três amostras, representando 19 cultivares de milho com diferentes tipos de germoplasma, de endosperma e ciclo vegetativo, foram avaliadas quanto ao teor de fumonisinas em três Estações Experimentais do Instituto Agronômico (Capão Bonito, Ribeirão Preto e Votuporanga) em São Paulo, Brasil, durante a safra de 97/98. Todos os cultivares analisados estavam contaminados com fumonisinas em níveis que variaram de 1.63 µg/g a 25.69 µg/g e uma média de 5.61 µg/g FB1 e de 0.38 µg/g a 8.60 µg/g e uma média de 1.86 µg/g FB2. Estes níveis tão elevados colocam o milho cultivado no Estado de São Paulo entre os mais contaminados do mundo em termos de fumonisinas.