Detection and quantification of fumonisins from Fusarium verticillioides in maize grown in southern India

Abstract

Fumonisins are a group of fungal toxins, occurring worldwide in maize infected mainly by Fusarium verticillioides. This paper describes the level of fumonisins in maize seed samples and the ability of F. verticillioides strains isolated from maize seeds grown in India to produce fumonisins. Forty-three seed samples intended to be used for consumption were collected from different regions of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The samples were subjected to the agar plate method for the detection of F. verticillioides. Identification of F. verticillioides was done based on morphological characters and further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The majority of the samples were infected by F. verticillioides and infection percentage in the individual samples ranged from 5 to 51%. Twenty-three out of 35 (65%) strains were positive for fumonisin production in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and competitive directenzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (CD-ELISA). Fumonisin level in seed samples ranged from 200 to 1,722 lg/g using CD-ELISA. HPLC could differentiate FB1 and FB2 toxins; out of 35 strains, 14 (40%) showed both FB1 and FB2 production. These findings indicate that there may be a risk of human exposure to fumonisins through the consumption of F. verticillioides infected cornbased foods in India.

Genetic Characterization of Fungal Biodiversity in Storage Grains: Towards Enhancing Food Safety in Northern Uganda

“…Among the Fusarium genus, F. verticillioides had the highest frequency of occurrence. This species was isolated from maize, millet, sorghum, and peanut, underscoring its broad host range as reported in other studies [43]. Among the diseases caused by F. verticillioides, ear rots and stalk rot in maize, sorghum, and millet [44], and root rot in peanut [45], are the most important.…”

Identification of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae race 1 as the causal agent of lettuce wilt in Brazil

“…Molecular techniques are important tools to discriminate fungal species with intimate genetic relationships where few morphological diagnostic traits are available (Wuff et al, 2010) as well as to differentiate isolates within the same species (Chandra-Nayaka et al, 2010). In Fusarium, the identification to species based exclusively upon morphological information is challenging.…”

Mould incidence and mycotoxin contamination in freshly harvested maize kernels originated from India

“…Approximately 400 people were affected by the epidemic through jaundice, rapidly developing ascites and portal hypertension . A regular survey of some maize‐growing areas of Bihar state, India for three consecutive years (September 1984–1986) revealed heavy infestations of mycotoxin‐producing fungi in different maize samples . There was also some evidence of aflatoxin contamination on maize kernels in Pakistan …”

“…Besides AFB1 and OTA contamination, trichothecene‐ and fumonisin‐producing species of Fusarium also affected the maize grains under study. Unfortunately, few reports are available on contamination by toxigenic Fusarium species in India . In Europe, Munkvold et al studied the epidemiology of Fusarium ear rot (or pink ear rot) and Gibberella ear rot (or red ear rot), both of which resulted in mycotoxin contamination of maize grains.…”