FOOD SCIENCE ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (16): 273-280.doi: 10.7506/spkx1002-6630-20200313-206

• Safety Detection • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Isolation and Identification of Fungal Contaminants and Analysis of Mycotoxin Content in Fresh Corn during Grain Development

ZHANG Nana, CHEN Lirong, ZHANG Shoumei, GUO Yuqiu, LIU Kaichang, GONG Kuijie   

  1. (Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China)
  • Published:2021-08-27

Abstract: In order to investigate fungal contamination and the accumulation of fungal toxins in fresh corn during seed development, three cultivars, ‘Tianzi 23’, ‘Jingkenuo 2000’ and ‘Heinuo 6’ were selected. Fungi were isolated and identified at 0, 12, 23, 35 and 55 days after pollination, and the contents of aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in corn samples were determined. A total of 1606 fungal strains were isolated from the three cultivars of fresh corn, belonging to 20 species and 13 genera. During corn kernel development, the major fungal contaminants were Penicillium, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Mucor and Talaromyces, followed by Alternaria, Rhizopus, Sarocladium and Choanephora as well as lesser quantities of Phoma, Nigrospora, Lichtheimia and Cladosporium. The contents of aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone were the lowest at 23 days after pollination, suggesting the best suitability for consumption. The number of fungal contaminants was not correlated with the accumulation of toxins. ‘Heinuo 6’ had the lowest mycotoxin content, followed by ‘Tianzi 23’ and ‘Jingkenuo 2000’. Mycotoxin contents in the three cultivars were far lower than the residue limit.

Key words: fresh corn; kernel development; isolation and identification of fungi; mycotoxin

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