scholarly journals Aflatoxin contamination in food crops: causes, detection, and management: a review

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhishek Kumar ◽  
Hardik Pathak ◽  
Seema Bhadauria ◽  
Jebi Sudan
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Aspergillus Parasiticus ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Food Crops ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Resistant Varieties ◽  
Food Commodities ◽  
Post Harvesting ◽  
Favorable Conditions

AbstractMycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by several fungal species and molds. Under favorable conditions like high temperature and moisture, they contaminate a large number of food commodities and regional crops during pre and post-harvesting. Aflatoxin is the main mycotoxin that harm animal and human health due to its carcinogenic nature. Aflatoxins are mainly released by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. AFB1 constitutes the most harmful type of aflatoxins and is a potent hepato-carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and it suppresses the immune system. To maintain food safety and to prevent aflatoxin contamination in food crops, combined approaches of using resistant varieties along with recommended farming practices should be followed. This review concentrates on various aspects of mycotoxin contamination in crops and recent methods to prevent or minimize the contamination.

scholarly journals Methods for Detection of Aflatoxins in Agricultural Food Crops

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex P. Wacoo ◽  
Deborah Wendiro ◽  
Peter C. Vuzi ◽  
Joseph F. Hawumba
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Aspergillus Parasiticus ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Electrochemical Immunosensor ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Layer Chromatography ◽  
Agricultural Food

Aflatoxins are toxic carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced predominantly by two fungal species: Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. These fungal species are contaminants of foodstuff as well as feeds and are responsible for aflatoxin contamination of these agro products. The toxicity and potency of aflatoxins make them the primary health hazard as well as responsible for losses associated with contaminations of processed foods and feeds. Determination of aflatoxins concentration in food stuff and feeds is thus very important. However, due to their low concentration in foods and feedstuff, analytical methods for detection and quantification of aflatoxins have to be specific, sensitive, and simple to carry out. Several methods including thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectroscopy, enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA), and electrochemical immunosensor, among others, have been described for detecting and quantifying aflatoxins in foods. Each of these methods has advantages and limitations in aflatoxins analysis. This review critically examines each of the methods used for detection of aflatoxins in foodstuff, highlighting the advantages and limitations of each method. Finally, a way forward for overcoming such obstacles is suggested.

Production of Aflatoxin in Cocoa Beans

1979 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1076-1079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence M Lenovich ◽  
W Jeffrey Hurst
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Ivory Coast ◽  
Aspergillus Parasiticus ◽  
Aflatoxin Production ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Cocoa Beans ◽  
Total Aflatoxin ◽  
Substrate Variation

Abstract Aflatoxin was produced in both non-autoclaved and autoclaved Ivory Coast cocoa beans inoculated with Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 under optimum laboratory growth conditions. Total aflatoxin levels ranged from 213 to 5597 ng/g substrate. Aflatoxin was quantitated by using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Raw, non-autoclaved cocoa beans, also inoculated with aspergilli, produced 6359 ng aflatoxin/g substrate. Variation in aflatoxin production between bean varieties was observed. Total aflatoxin levels of 10,446 and 23,076 ng/g substrate were obtained on Ivory Coast beans inoculated with A. parasiticus NRRL 2999 and NRRL 3240, respectively. Aflatoxin production on Trinidad and Malaysian beans was 28 and 65 ng aflatoxin/g substrate. These data support previously reported low level natural aflatoxin contamination in cocoa.

Extracts of Agave americana inhibit aflatoxin production in Aspergillus parasiticus

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Rosas-Taraco ◽  
E. Sanchez ◽  
S. García ◽  
N. Heredia ◽  
D. Bhatnagar
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Parasiticus ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Aflatoxin Production ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Aqueous Extracts ◽  
Total Aflatoxin ◽  
Toxigenic Fungi ◽  
Agave Americana ◽  
Acid Accumulation ◽  
Norsolorinic Acid

Toxigenic fungi invade crops prior to harvest as well as during storage and produce harmful, even carcinogenic toxins such as aflatoxins. Since consumers demand safe commodities, and due to enhanced public awareness of the dangers of many synthetic fungicides, the importance of investigating alternative, natural products to control these toxigenic fungi is clear. This study investigated the effect of aqueous extracts of Agave americana on growth, conidia and aflatoxin production. Aspergillus parasiticus strains SRRC 148, SRRC 143 (Su-1), and A. parasiticus SRRC 162, a mutant (nor-) that accumulates norsolorinic acid (NOR, an orange-coloured intermediate of the aflatoxin pathway), were first inoculated into Adye and Mateles liquid medium, then plant extracts were added, and incubated at 28 °C for 7 days. Aflatoxin and norsolorinic acid were assayed by HPLC and spectrophotometry, respectively. While the extract of A. americana stimulated growth of the studied fungi, conidiogenesis, norsolorinic acid accumulation (in the nor- mutant), and aflatoxin production were significantly affected. The reduction was produced by the extracts at concentrations higher than 5-10 mg/ml, where all types of total aflatoxin analysed (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2) were reduced from 64% to >99% in the whole culture, and a reduction of 75% of norsolorinic acid. The results of the present work indicate that extracts of A. americana may be promising safe alternatives to harmful fungicides for controlling aflatoxin contamination.

scholarly journals Interactions of Saprophytic Yeasts with anor Mutant of Aspergillus flavus

1999 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 2738-2740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sui-Sheng T. Hua ◽  
James L. Baker ◽  
Melanie Flores-Espiritu
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Flavus ◽  
Agar Plate ◽  
Aflatoxin Production ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Orange Pigment ◽  
Yeast Strains ◽  
Norsolorinic Acid ◽  
Aflatoxin Accumulation ◽  
Food Commodities ◽  
Pigment Accumulation

ABSTRACT The nor mutant of Aspergillus flavus has a defective norsolorinic acid reductase, and thus the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway is blocked, resulting in the accumulation of norsolorinic acid, a bright red-orange pigment. We developed a visual agar plate assay to monitor yeast strains for their ability to inhibit aflatoxin production by visually scoring the accumulation of this pigment of the nor mutant. We identified yeast strains that reduced the red-orange pigment accumulation in the normutant. These yeasts also reduced aflatoxin accumulation by a toxigenic strain of A. flavus. These yeasts may be useful for reducing aflatoxin contamination of food commodities.

scholarly journals Development of Reverse Transcription (RT)-PCR and Real-Time RT-PCR Assays for Rapid Detection and Quantification of Viable Yeasts and Molds Contaminating Yogurts and Pasteurized Food Products

2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 4116-4122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Bleve ◽  
Lucia Rizzotti ◽  
Franco Dellaglio ◽  
Sandra Torriani
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Universal Primers ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Actin Mrna ◽  
Pcr Assays ◽  
Food Commodities ◽  
Yeasts And Molds

ABSTRACT Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and real-time RT-PCR assays have been used to detect and quantify actin mRNA from yeasts and molds. Universal primers were designed based on the available fungal actin sequences, and by RT-PCR they amplified a specific 353-bp fragment from fungal species involved in food spoilage. From experiments on heat-treated cells, actin mRNA was a good indicator of cell viability: viable cells and cells in a nonculturable state were detected, while no signal was observed from dead cells. The optimized RT-PCR assay was able to detect 10 CFU of fungi ml−1 in pure culture and 103 and 102 CFU ml−1 in artificially contaminated yogurts and pasteurized fruit-derived products, respectively. Real-time RT-PCR, performed on a range of spoiled commercial food products, validated the suitability of actin mRNA detection for the quantification of naturally contaminating fungi. The specificity and sensitivity of the procedure, combined with its speed, its reliability, and the potential automation of the technique, offer several advantages to routine analysis programs that assess the presence and viability of fungi in food commodities.

scholarly journals KOMODITAS UNGGULAN SUBSEKTOR TANAMAN PANGAN BERBASIS POTENSI WILAYAH KERUANGAN DI PROVINSI BALI

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Evendi - Akhmad ◽  
Made - Antara
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Regional Growth ◽  
Food Crops ◽  
Food Crop ◽  
Location Quotient ◽  
Agricultural Business ◽  
Food Commodities ◽  
Seed Crops ◽  
The City

ABSTRACT Food crop commodities in Bali are quite potential, so making these commodities quite crucial in various discussions. When viewed from the results of the 2013 Agriculture Census in Bali there were 408,233 agricultural business households and 53 percent of them were food crop business households. Bali's GRDP according to business fields, food crops subsector contributed 14.57 percent of the 2016 GDP contribution to the agricultural sector. The development of tourism and population growth are thought to be the cause of the conversion of agricultural land to non-agriculture. Therefore, a scientific study is needed to map the potential of the food crop subsector in Bali. The objectives of this study are: (1) to identify what are the main competitive seed crops, (2) to analyze the growth of food crops according to districts / cities, (3) to analyze the potential of the main commodity areas of Bali's food crops. This research was conducted in Bali Province. The selection of research locations using the purposive sampling method is based on the consideration that food crops are the most sought-after commodities by Balinese farmers. The data used in this study is the data on commodity production of the Bali Province food crops sub-sector according to districts / cities in the 5-year time series (2011-2015). The analytical tool used is Location Quotient (LQ), Shift Share, Superimpose and analysis of potential spatial areas. The results of the study show that all regencies / municipalities have comparative superior food crops except the city of Denpasar. Increased regional growth of food crops occurred in three districts / cities, namely Jembrana, Gianyar and Denpasar City. All districts / cities have food crops that experience proportional rapid growth, high competitiveness commodities and commodities that are progressing in net growth. All regencies have superior crops of food commodities, both those which are superior (comparative or competitive superior) and highly superior (comparative and competitive) commodities. Meanwhile, Denpasar City only has superior food crops (competitively superior).

scholarly journals Microbial Degradation of Different Hydrocarbon Fuels with Mycoremediation of Volatiles

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agota Horel ◽  
Silke Schiewer
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Species ◽  
Bacterial Degradation ◽  
Contaminant Removal ◽  
Total Hydrocarbon ◽  
Diesel Fuels ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Surface Contaminants ◽  
Favorable Conditions ◽  
Hydrocarbon Substrates ◽  
Growth Of Fungi

Naturally occurring microorganisms in soil matrices play a significant role in overall hydrocarbon contaminant removal. Bacterial and fungal degradation processes are major contributors to aerobic remediation of surface contaminants. This study investigated degradation of conventional diesel, heating diesel fuel, synthetic diesel (Syntroleum), fish biodiesel and a 20% biodiesel/diesel blend by naturally present microbial communities in laboratory microcosms under favorable environmental conditions. Visible fungal remediation was observed with Syntroleum and fish biodiesel contaminated samples, which also showed the highest total hydrocarbon mineralization (>48%) during the first 28 days of the experiment. Heating diesel and conventional diesel fuels showed the lowest total hydrocarbon mineralization with 18–23% under favorable conditions. In concurrent experiments with growth of fungi suspended on a grid in the air space above a specific fuel with little or no soil, fungi were able to survive and grow solely on volatile hydrocarbon compounds as a carbon source. These setups involved negligible bacterial degradation for all five investigated fuel types. Fungal species able to grow on specific hydrocarbon substrates were identified as belonging to the genera of Giberella, Mortierella, Fusarium, Trichoderma, and Penicillium.

scholarly journals The anomalous low and high temperatures of 2012 over Greece – an explanation from a meteorological and climatological perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 501-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Tolika ◽  
P. Maheras ◽  
I. Pytharoulis ◽  
C. Anagnostopoulou
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Pressure Field ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Synoptic Conditions ◽  
Etesian Winds ◽  
Key Driver ◽  
Favorable Conditions ◽  
Cool Conditions

Abstract. 2012 was the hottest year in Greece on the basis of the available record dating back to 1958, displaying at the same time the widest annual temperature range. During the summer and autumn months, numerous regions in the domain of study experienced record-breaking maximum and minimum temperatures. Conversely, the winter period was particularly cold and January one of the coldest months over the last 55 yr. The analysis of the cold period indicates that the synoptic conditions resemble the positive phase of the Eastern Mediterranean Pattern (EMP). The predominance of these cool conditions seems to be related primarily to an intense NNW or NNE atmospheric circulation, as a consequence of the positive EMP phase. Moreover, the reduction in the floating sea ice emerges as a key driver of the formation of a low-pressure pattern and the reinforcement of the trough south of Scandinavia, which in turn strengthened the Siberia High east of the trough. This reinforcement resulted in a blocking pattern and in favorable conditions for the EMP formation. The atmospheric circulation during the prolonged high-temperature period resembles, respectively, the negative phase of North Sea–Caspian Pattern teleconnection. The observed positive pole, in conjunction with the strong southwestern circulation, results in temperature increases and in the development of a smooth pressure field that contributes to the weakening of the Etesian winds and therefore to calm conditions over the continental areas.

scholarly journals Aspergillus Volatiles Regulate Aflatoxin Synthesis and Asexual Sporulation in Aspergillus parasiticus

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (22) ◽  
pp. 7268-7276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludmila V. Roze ◽  
Randolph M. Beaudry ◽  
Anna E. Arthur ◽  
Ana M. Calvo ◽  
John E. Linz
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Parasiticus ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Aflatoxin Biosynthesis ◽  
Transcript Accumulation ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Asexual Sporulation ◽  
Norsolorinic Acid ◽  
Aflatoxin Accumulation ◽  
Regulatory Effects

ABSTRACT Aspergillus parasiticus is one primary source of aflatoxin contamination in economically important crops. To prevent the potential health and economic impacts of aflatoxin contamination, our goal is to develop practical strategies to reduce aflatoxin synthesis on susceptible crops. One focus is to identify biological and environmental factors that regulate aflatoxin synthesis and to manipulate these factors to control aflatoxin biosynthesis in the field or during crop storage. In the current study, we analyzed the effects of aspergillus volatiles on growth, development, aflatoxin biosynthesis, and promoter activity in the filamentous fungus A. parasiticus. When colonies of Aspergillus nidulans and A. parasiticus were incubated in the same growth chamber, we observed a significant reduction in aflatoxin synthesis and asexual sporulation by A. parasiticus. Analysis of the headspace gases demonstrated that A. nidulans produced much larger quantities of 2-buten-1-ol (CA) and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (EH) than A. parasiticus. In its pure form, EH inhibited growth and increased aflatoxin accumulation in A. parasiticus at all doses tested; EH also stimulated aflatoxin transcript accumulation. In contrast, CA exerted dose-dependent up-regulatory or down-regulatory effects on aflatoxin accumulation, conidiation, and aflatoxin transcript accumulation. Experiments with reporter strains carrying nor-1 promoter deletions and mutations suggested that the differential effects of CA were mediated through separate regulatory regions in the nor-1 promoter. The potential efficacy of CA as a tool for analysis of transcriptional regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis is discussed. We also identify a novel, rapid, and reliable method to assess norsolorinic acid accumulation in solid culture using a Chroma Meter CR-300 apparatus.

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