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Fumigation of Brazil nuts with allyl isothiocyanate to inhibit the growth of Aspergillus parasiticus and aflatoxin production
Author(s) -
Lopes Lucas F,
Bordin Keliani,
de Lara Gabriel HC,
Saladino Federica,
Quiles Juan M,
Meca Giuseppe,
Luciano Fernando B
Publication year - 2017
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.8527
Subject(s) - allyl isothiocyanate , aspergillus parasiticus , aflatoxin , fumigation , population , mycotoxin , food science , brazil nut , chemistry , fungal growth , aspergillus flavus , horticulture , biology , botany , biochemistry , demography , sociology
BACKGROUND Brazil produces approximately 40 000 tons of Brazil nuts annually, which is commonly contaminated with fungi and mycotoxins. Gaseous allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) was used to inhibit the growth of Aspergillus parasiticus and its production of aflatoxins (AFs) in Brazil nuts. RESULTS Nuts were inoculated with 10 4 spores g −1 of A. parasiticus and placed in airtight glass jars with controlled relative humidity (RH = 95 or 85%). Samples were treated with 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.5 µL L −1 of gaseous AITC and analyzed after 30 days to determine the fungal population and AFs content. Samples were also submitted to sensory evaluation. AITC at 2.5 µL L −1 could completely inhibit the fungal growth and AFs production in both the RH tested. AITC at 0.5 and 1 µL L −1 did not affect the microbial growth at RH = 95%, but 1 µL L −1 reduced the production of AFs by ∼50%. All AITC treatments reduced the fungal population and AFs to undetectable levels at RH = 85%. None of the concentrations altered sensory characteristics of Brazil nuts. CONCLUSION Gaseous AITC could be used as an alternative to inhibit the growth of A. parasiticus during storage and transport of Brazil nuts. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.