Phomopsis leptostromiformis infection and phomopsin A content of lupin seed in Western Australia

Abstract

A survey of Phomopsis leptostromiformis infection of lupin seed in Western Australia was carried out in 1982 and 1983. Of the samples surveyed 39% were uninfected and 16.6% had >4% infection. These values differ significantly from a previous survey between 1976 and 1981 (49 and 8.4% respectively). There was a highly significant correlation (P <0.002) between the amount of discoloured seed and P. leptostromiformis infection. Results of toxicity tests for the mycotoxin phomopsin A, assessing hepatic injury in nursling rats, strongly implicate discoloured seeds as being the most toxic. Discoloured seed had more toxin in the seed hulls than in the kernal.

Scientific information on mycotoxins and natural plant toxicants

“…This appears to be due to the emergence of lupin flour as a human food ingredient and the availability of data on the phomopsin content of lupins in Australia (ANZFA, 2001;Petterson et al, 1985;Than et al, 1994;Wood and Petterson, 1986). In fact ELISA and HPLC based analytical methods are reported, but none of the mentioned methods has been validated by interlaboratory studies and there are no certified reference materials or proficiency studies available for the determination of phomopsins.…”

Scientific Opinion on the risks for animal and public health related to the presence of phomopsins in feed and food

“…In most cases the infection rate is below 5 %. In a further study with samples from the 1982 and 1983 harvests, 39 % were free of infection and 17 % had an infection rate above 4 % (Wood and Petterson, 1986). From 584 samples of seeds of four cultivars of L. angustifolius and one cultivar of Lupinus albus, taken from farmers during the years 1976-81, about 50 % were free of infection by D. toxica and infection rate of the infected samples was in most cases below 4 % .…”

“…When it was established that virtually all production of phomopsins occurred only in discoloured seeds (Wood and Petterson, 1986;Than et al, 1994), a receival standard for discoloured seed was introduced throughout Australia. This is currently no more than 3 % discoloured seeds.…”

“…It has been demonstrated that because discoloured seeds are smaller and lighter than normal seeds they can be very effectively removed from harvested grain by normal commercial seed cleaning (Wood and Petterson, 1986).…”

Effective use in livestock feeds of mouldy and weather-damaged grain containing mycotoxins—case histories and economic assessments pertaining to pig and poultry industries of Queensland

“…The structure of the principal mycotoxin phomopsin A has recently been clarified (Mackay et al 1986) and surveys for phomopsin A in lupin seeds in Western Australia have been reported by Wood and Petterson (1986). Increased infection levels of lupin crops are associated with higher rainfall and cultivar susceptibility (Wood and Petterson 1985).…”