Aflatoxin and Fumonisin Contamination of Commercial Corn (Zea mays) Hybrids in Mississippi

Abstract

Resistance to mycotoxin contamination was compared in field samples harvested from 45 commercial corn (maize) hybrids and 5 single-cross aflatoxin-resistant germplasm lines in years with high and moderate heat stress. In high heat stress, mycotoxin levels were (4.34 +/- 0.32) x 10(3) microg/kg [(0.95-10.5 x 10(3) microg/kg] aflatoxins and 11.2 +/- 1.2 mg/kg (0-35 mg/kg) fumonisins in commercial hybrids and 370 +/- 88 microg/kg (140-609 microg/kg) aflatoxins and 4.0 +/- 1.3 mg/kg (1.7-7.8 mg/kg) fumonisins in aflatoxin-resistant germplasm lines. Deoxynivalenol was detected (one-fourth of the samples, 0-1.5 mg/kg), but not zearalenone. In moderate heat stress, mycotoxin levels were 6.2 +/- 1.6 microg/kg (0-30.4 microg/kg) aflatoxins and 2.5 +/- 0.2 mg/kg (0.5-4.8 mg/kg) fumonisins in commercial hybrids and 1.6 +/- 0.7 microg/kg (0-7 microg/kg) aflatoxins and 1.2 +/- 0.2 mg/kg (0.5-3.0 mg/kg) fumonisins in aflatoxin-resistant germplasm lines. The results are consistent with heat stress playing an important role in the susceptibility of corn to both aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination, with significant reductions of both aflatoxins and fumonisins in aflatoxin-resistant germplasm lines.

A survey of aflatoxin B1 in maize and awareness of aflatoxins in Vietnam

“…The environmental conditions influence the growth of aflatoxins. For maize grown in the field, high risk factors are high temperature and drought stress, while during storage, high temperature and humidity along with improper storage practice increase the risk (Abbas et al, 2002(Abbas et al, , 2006Magan and Aldred, 2007;Sandris and Magan, 2004).…”

Aflatoxin Measurement and Analysis

“…The formation of sodium adduct ions can easily be suppressed by the addition of ammonium ions to the mobile phase leading to a better MS sensitivity (Cavaliere et al, 2006). Reports about the utility of APCI interfaces are inconsistent and ionisation efficiencies in this mode seem to be highly dependent on the aflatoxin subgroup and the APCI interface geometry (Abbas et al, 2002). In this respect, only the structurally related sterigmatocystin offers strikingly better sensitivity with an APCI interface in the positive ion mode than with ESI (Scudamore et al, 1996), and consequently only Abbas et al applied APCI for the detection of AFBs in the low ppb range (Abbas et al, 2002).…”

“…Reports about the utility of APCI interfaces are inconsistent and ionisation efficiencies in this mode seem to be highly dependent on the aflatoxin subgroup and the APCI interface geometry (Abbas et al, 2002). In this respect, only the structurally related sterigmatocystin offers strikingly better sensitivity with an APCI interface in the positive ion mode than with ESI (Scudamore et al, 1996), and consequently only Abbas et al applied APCI for the detection of AFBs in the low ppb range (Abbas et al, 2002). According to recent investigations, autospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) seems to be a more reliable alternative to ESI.…”

Genetic Resistance to Drought in Maize and Its Relationship in Aflatoxins Production

“…Some studies have shown that heat stress plays an important role in the susceptibility of corn to aflatoxin contamination (Payne, 1998;Abbas et al, 2002). Under these conditions stress the plant can result in high aflatoxin levels.…”