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Relative populations and toxin production by Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides in artificially inoculated corn at various stages of development under field conditions
Author(s) -
Zorzete Patricia,
Castro Rosimar S,
Pozzi Claudia R,
Israel Ana Lia M,
Fonseca Homero,
Yanaguibashi Gianni,
Corrêa Benedito
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2930
Subject(s) - aspergillus flavus , mycotoxin , fusarium , inoculation , spore , contamination , biology , toxin , aflatoxin , horticulture , veterinary medicine , food science , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , medicine
The presence, development and production of mycotoxins by Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides were studied in corn ears under field conditions after artificial contamination of corn silks. The planted area was divided into five treatments: T1, inoculated with A. flavus solution containing 1 × 10 8 spores, ears covered; T2, inoculated with F. verticillioides solution containing 1 × 10 8 spores, ears covered; T3, inoculated with F. verticillioides plus A. flavus solution containing 1 × 10 8 spores of each, ears covered; T4, sprayed with sterile phosphate‐buffered saline, ears covered; T5, non‐sprayed silks, uncovered ears. Soil and air samples were also collected and analysed for the occurrence of fungi. Water activity, relative air humidity, rainfall and temperature were determined to assess the correlation between abiotic factors and the presence of fungi in the samples. Contamination with the inoculated fungus predominated in T1 and T2. In the other treatments, F. verticillioides was the most frequently isolated contaminant irrespective of treatment. Considering the production of mycotoxins, a positive relation between the production of fumonisins B 1 and B 2 and the frequency of F. verticillioides was statistically verified in all treatments. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry