Effects of Moisture Content and Temperature on Aflatoxin Production in Corn 1

Abstract

Samples of freshly harvested and remoistened corn, of various moisture contents, were stored at different temperatures; analyses for aflatoxin content were made periodically. At moisture levels above 17.5% and at temperatures of 24 C or warmer, aflatoxins were formed by Aspergillusflavus present in the original epiphytic mycoflora. Remoistened dried corn was subject to more rapid fungal deterioration and aflatoxin formation than freshly harvested corn. Screening of the fungi present in the corn revealed aflatoxin production only by A. flavus. The toxigenic strains produced only aflatoxins B1 and B2. corn was remoistened to moisture contents of 17 to 26%, stored at 24, 30, and 35 C, and handled as previously described. Aflatoxins were determined by using the aqueous acetone extraction method of Pons et al. (17). The 781

EFFECT OF SOME PRESERVATIVES AND FUNGICIDES IN ARRESTING FUNGAL INFESTATION OVER MARKETED BETEL NUT (ARECA CATECHU L.)

“…Moisture content and humidity play an important role in growth and proliferation of fungi and also in production of mytotoxins. Hence heat treatment can be an important method to control the fungal infestation (Armolik and Dickson 1959;Lopez and Christensen 1967;Trenk and Hartman 1970;Moreno et 01. 1986;Raisuddin et af.…”

INHIBITION OF ASPERGILLUS PARASITICUS GROWTH AND TOXIN PRODUCTION BY GARLIC

“…The optimum temperature reported for growth of A. parasiticus was 33 "C (Holmquist et al 1983;Ayerst 1969). Temperatures of 30°C and higher have been reported to support aflatoxin production in YES broth (Pensala et al 1978), in corn (Trenk et al 1970) and on rice .…”

Effect of genotype (open‐pollinated vs hybrid) and environment on preharvest aflatoxin contamination of maize grown in southeastern united states

“…Neither do the weeldy mean maximal temperatures between flowering and harvest times (Fig. 1) provide an answer, particularly when the optimal and maximal temperatures for mold growth and aflatoxin production are considered (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). There is general agreement in the published studies that the optimal temperature range for aflatoxin production is 25-35 C with essentially no production when the temperature exceeds 40 C, and the corresponding temperatures would be 5-10 C higher for vegetative growth of the fungus.…”