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Detection and quantification of fumonisins from Fusarium verticillioides in maize grown in southern India

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Abstract

Fumonisins are a group of fungal toxins, occurring worldwide in maize infected mainly by Fusarium verticillioides. This paper describes the level of fumonisins in maize seed samples and the ability of F. verticillioides strains isolated from maize seeds grown in India to produce fumonisins. Forty-three seed samples intended to be used for consumption were collected from different regions of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The samples were subjected to the agar plate method for the detection of F. verticillioides. Identification of F. verticillioides was done based on morphological characters and further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The majority of the samples were infected by F. verticillioides and infection percentage in the individual samples ranged from 5 to 51%. Twenty-three out of 35 (65%) strains were positive for fumonisin production in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and competitive direct-enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (CD-ELISA). Fumonisin level in seed samples ranged from 200 to 1,722 μg/g using CD-ELISA. HPLC could differentiate FB1 and FB2 toxins; out of 35 strains, 14 (40%) showed both FB1 and FB2 production. These findings indicate that there may be a risk of human exposure to fumonisins through the consumption of F. verticillioides infected corn-based foods in India.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Chuck Bird, Director of International Sales Division, Food Safety, Neogen Corporation, USA for kindly providing Veratox Kit used in the present study and DANIDA, Denmark and University of Mysore, India for providing financial support.

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Correspondence to H. S. Prakash.

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Chandra Nayaka, S., Udaya Shankar, A.C., Niranjana, S.R. et al. Detection and quantification of fumonisins from Fusarium verticillioides in maize grown in southern India. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 26, 71–78 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-009-0144-x

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