Natural Occurence of Aflatoxins in Wheat from Central Transylvania

Abstract

Aflatoxins (AFs), the secondary metabolites produced by species of Aspergillus, specifically Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, have harmful effects on humans, animals, and crops that result in illnesses and economic losses. Wheat that is susceptible to these fungi infections through its growth, harvest, transport, and storage, is the most important food in Romania. Therefore, this study sought to present mycotoxins in wheat samples grown in different regions of Transyvania, the results being obtained in the climate of the year 2009-2010. Wheat samples were collected from Turda and Targu Mures.
 It was analyzed the presence of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, using HPTLC in twenty samples of wheat. Percentage of samples found positive for aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2 was 10%, 5%, 0%, 0%. Although the percentage of aflatoxin found in wheat is low, these percentages should be considered, in terms of exposure every day to mycotoxins through consumption of cereals and cereal-based products.

The Effect of Environmental Factors on Mould Counts and AFB1 Toxin Production by Aspergillus flavus in Maize

“…The toxin-producing Aspergillus species cause significant problems in agricultural food production in tropical and subtropical areas, where environmental conditions are optimal for the development of infection and toxin production [ 18 , 19 ]. Several studies have confirmed the presence of aflatoxin-producing fungi and aflatoxin contamination in agricultural areas of Central Europe [ 3 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. An increasing number of researchers are dealing with this problem because aflatoxin concentration has recently exceeded the EU limit in several regions [ 24 , 25 ].…”