Fumonisins in corn: correlation with Fusarium sp. count, damaged kernels, protein and lipid content

Abstracts

Natural fungal and fumonisin contamination were evaluated in 109 freshly harvested corn samples from Paraná State and correlated to damaged kernels (%). In addition, healthy and damaged kernels of 24 corn samples were selected in order to compare the mycoflora profile and fumonisin levels. The correlation among protein/lipid content and fumonisin levels was also analyzed in the 15 most frequently cultivated corn hybrids. Total fungal colony count in 109 freshly harvested corn samples ranged from 1.9x10(4) to 3.5x10(6) CFU/g, Fusarium sp. count from 1.0x10³ to 2.2x10(6) CFU/g, and fumonisin levels from 0.13 to 20.38 µg/g. Total fungal colony/Fusarium sp. count and fumonisin levels showed positive correlation (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a positive correlation between damaged kernels (%) and total fungal colony/Fusarium sp. count (p < 0.05). Fumonisin levels in healthy kernels ranged from 0.57 to 20.38 µg/g, while in the damaged kernels it ranged from 68.96 to 336.38 µg/g. No significant correlation among the fumonisin levels and the protein or lipid content was observed. The results showed the importance of constant monitoring of toxigenic fungi and fumonisin contamination in corn and corn-based foods in order to assure the quality and safety of products and to minimize the potential hazards to human and animal health.

Mycoflora; toxigenic fungi; mycotoxins; fumonisins; corn quality

A contaminação natural por fungos e fumonisinas foi avaliada em 109 amostras de milho recém-colhido do Estado do Paraná e correlacionada com grãos ardidos (%). Além disso, grãos sadios e ardidos de 24 amostras de milho foram selecionados a fim de comparar o perfil da microbiota fúngica e níveis de fumonisinas. A correlação entre os teores de proteínas/lipídios e os níveis de fumonisinas também foi analisada nos 15 híbridos de milho mais freqüentemente cultivados no Estado do Paraná. A contagem total de fungos em 109 amostras de milho recém-colhido variou de 1,9x10(4) a 3,5x10(6) UFC/g, Fusarium sp. de 1,0x10³ a 2,2x10(6) UFC/g e, níveis de fumonisinas de 0,13 a 20,38 µg/g. A contagem total de fungos/Fusarium spp. e níveis de fumonisinas apresentaram correlação positiva (p<0,05). Adicionalmente, houve uma correlação positiva entre grãos ardidos (%) e a contagem total de fungos/ Fusarium spp. (p < 0,05). Os níveis de fumonisinas nos grãos sadios variaram de 0,57 a 20,38 µg/g, enquanto que nos grãos ardidos variaram de 68,96 a 336,38 µg/g. Não foi observada correlação significativa entre os níveis de fumonisinas e os teores de proteínas/lipídios. Esses resultados ratificam a importância do monitoramento constante da contaminação por fungos toxigênicos e fumonisinas em milho e derivados a fim de garantir a qualidade e segurança dos produtos e minimizar o risco potencial à saúde humana e animal.

FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Fumonisins in corn: correlation with Fusarium sp. count, damaged kernels, protein and lipid content

Elisabete Yurie Sataque OnoI, ^*; Luciana Biazon^I; Marcelo da Silva^I; Édio Vizoni^II; Yoshitsugu Sugiura^III; Yoshio Ueno^IV; Elisa Yoko Hirooka^V

^IDepartamento de Bioquímica e Biotecnologia

^IIDepartamento de Matemática Aplicada

^IIIKobe Institute of Health; Department of Food Chemistry; 4-6 Minatojima - Nakamachi; Chuo-ku; Kobe; 650-0046; Japan

^IVYashio Institute of Environmental Sciences; Usui Bldg. 2F; 8-10 Nishi-Gokencho; Shinjukuku, Tokyo; 162-0812; Japan

^VDepartamento de Tecnologia de Alimentos e Medicamentos; Universidade Estadual de Londrina; C. P. 6001; [e-mail]; 86051-980; Londrina - PR - Brasil

ABSTRACT

Natural fungal and fumonisin contamination were evaluated in 109 freshly harvested corn samples from Paraná State and correlated to damaged kernels (%). In addition, healthy and damaged kernels of 24 corn samples were selected in order to compare the mycoflora profile and fumonisin levels. The correlation among protein/lipid content and fumonisin levels was also analyzed in the 15 most frequently cultivated corn hybrids. Total fungal colony count in 109 freshly harvested corn samples ranged from 1.9x10⁴ to 3.5x10⁶ CFU/g, Fusarium sp. count from 1.0x10³ to 2.2x10⁶ CFU/g, and fumonisin levels from 0.13 to 20.38 µg/g. Total fungal colony/Fusarium sp. count and fumonisin levels showed positive correlation (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a positive correlation between damaged kernels (%) and total fungal colony/Fusarium sp. count (p < 0.05). Fumonisin levels in healthy kernels ranged from 0.57 to 20.38 µg/g, while in the damaged kernels it ranged from 68.96 to 336.38 µg/g. No significant correlation among the fumonisin levels and the protein or lipid content was observed. The results showed the importance of constant monitoring of toxigenic fungi and fumonisin contamination in corn and corn-based foods in order to assure the quality and safety of products and to minimize the potential hazards to human and animal health.

Key words: Mycoflora, toxigenic fungi, mycotoxins, fumonisins, corn quality

RESUMO

A contaminação natural por fungos e fumonisinas foi avaliada em 109 amostras de milho recém-colhido do Estado do Paraná e correlacionada com grãos ardidos (%). Além disso, grãos sadios e ardidos de 24 amostras de milho foram selecionados a fim de comparar o perfil da microbiota fúngica e níveis de fumonisinas. A correlação entre os teores de proteínas/lipídios e os níveis de fumonisinas também foi analisada nos 15 híbridos de milho mais freqüentemente cultivados no Estado do Paraná. A contagem total de fungos em 109 amostras de milho recém-colhido variou de 1,9x10⁴ a 3,5x10⁶ UFC/g, Fusarium sp. de 1,0x10³ a 2,2x10⁶ UFC/g e, níveis de fumonisinas de 0,13 a 20,38 µg/g. A contagem total de fungos/Fusarium spp. e níveis de fumonisinas apresentaram correlação positiva (p<0,05). Adicionalmente, houve uma correlação positiva entre grãos ardidos (%) e a contagem total de fungos/ Fusarium spp. (p < 0,05). Os níveis de fumonisinas nos grãos sadios variaram de 0,57 a 20,38 µg/g, enquanto que nos grãos ardidos variaram de 68,96 a 336,38 µg/g. Não foi observada correlação significativa entre os níveis de fumonisinas e os teores de proteínas/lipídios. Esses resultados ratificam a importância do monitoramento constante da contaminação por fungos toxigênicos e fumonisinas em milho e derivados a fim de garantir a qualidade e segurança dos produtos e minimizar o risco potencial à saúde humana e animal.

INTRODUCTION

Corn (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop in Brazil, with an annual production of 42.8 million (metric) tons ranking the country as the third largest corn producer in the world. Southern Brazil produces 45% of Brazilian corn, and Paraná State accounts for 25% of the national production (CONAB, 2003). Corn quality depends on the hybrid and it is affected by cultural and climatic conditions, harvesting, drying, storage, handling, and transportation methods (Watson, 1987). Accuracy in sampling and grading is necessary due to the price differential between designated grades and price discounts by grade factors (Bauwin and Ryan, 1974).

In Brazil, most cooperatives and feed manufacturers specify a maximum of 14.0% moisture content, 1.0% foreign material, 6.0% damaged kernels, 2.0% broken corn and 2.0% insect damaged kernels (Menegazzo et al., 2001). Damaged kernels are of great concern due to the loss of corn quality and the potential occurrence of mycotoxins. As the amount of damaged kernels increases, the discounts are greater and sometimes all the lot could be refused (Martins, 1995). The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) estimated contamination with mycotoxins in 25% of the world's crop, and the main fungi involved belonged to the Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium genera (Pitt et al., 2000). Mycotoxins can cause a variety of toxic symptoms in humans and animals, ranging from gastroenteritis to cancer. Besides direct concerns over human health, mycotoxins have major economic impact on livestock productivity (Coulomb Jr., 1993).

In freshly harvested corn, fumonisins produced by Fusarium verticillioides (= F. moniliforme) remain the main problem because currently there are no proven practical methods for significantly reducing fumonisin levels in corn (Munkvold and Desjardins, 1997). Twenty-eight different fumonisins have been identified so far (Rheeder et al., 2002), however only FB₁, FB₂, and FB₃ are detected as natural contaminants at significant levels in corn and corn based products (Murphy et al., 1993). FB₁ causes equine leukoencephalomalacia in horses (Kellerman et al., 1990) and pulmonary edema in pigs (Harrison et al., 1990). Furthermore, epidemiological studies suggested probable involvement in esophageal (Thiel et al., 1992) and liver cancer in humans (Ueno, 2000). King and Scott (1981) reported genotypic differences in corn to kernel infection by F. verticillioides which were under genetic control. Genetic resistance to kernel infection offers the most potential for control of the mould infection and/or mycotoxin production (Headrick and Pataky, 1991).

In this study, natural fungal and fumonisin contamination were evaluated in 109 freshly harvested corn samples from Paraná State and correlated to damaged kernels (%). In addition, the correlations among protein/lipid content and fumonisin levels were analyzed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sampling

A total of 109 freshly harvested corn (Zea mays L.) samples were collected directly from the trucks at the delivery post of cooperatives in Paraná State, during the April/1995 crop. Random sampling was performed in the Central-Southern (13 samples), Central-Western (59 samples) and Northern (37 samples) regions of the State. Corn kernels were taken randomly from 9 to 12 truck body sites and pooled (3.6-5.0 kg), following the sampling protocol established by the Brazilian guidelines (Brasil, 1976). The samples were immediately sent to the laboratory and maintained at 4ºC for maximum 7 days for microbiological analysis. For fumonisin determination, 1kg of the corn sample was dried at 70ºC with circulating air in order to reach 11% moisture content.

In addition, healthy and damaged kernels from 24 corn samples from the Northern region of Paraná State were selected in order to compare the mycoflora profile and fumonisin levels, taking into account that the highest fumonisin contamination in the Northern corn samples was observed in previous study (Hirooka et al., 1996).

Moisture content

The moisture content (%) of the corn samples was determined immediately after sampling using a Geole 400 moisture meter (Gehaka Co., São Paulo).

Damaged kernels (%)

Damaged kernels (%) were determined during corn classification at the delivery post of cooperatives in Paraná State.

Mycoflora analysis

Two hundred grams of each corn sample were ground to 50 mesh. Sub-samples (10 g) of ground corn were then blended with 90 ml of sterile 0.1% peptone water (v/v), and serial dilutions were carried out with 9.0 ml of the same diluent to 10^-6. One milliliter of each dilution was transferred into a Petri dish and pour-plated with potato dextrose agar (PDA, pH 4.0) added to 50 mg/ml chloramphenicol and incubated at 25ºC for 6 days. After total fungal colony count, genera identification was carried out according to Nelson et al. (1983), Singh et al. (1991), and Samson et al. (1995).

Fumonisin analysis

Fumonisins B₁ and B₂ were analyzed according to Shephard et al. (1990) with some modification (Ueno et al., 1993). The corn kernels (200 g) were ground to 50 mesh in a laboratory mill, and 10 g powder was mixed with 30 mL methanol:water (3:1, v/v). After standing for 10 min at room temperature, the suspension was shaken at 150 rpm for 30 min and centrifuged at 4500 x g for 10 min. The crude extract (1.0 mL) was applied to preconditioned Sep Pak accell plus QMA cartridge (Waters Co., Ltd.). After washing the cartridge with methanol-water (3:1, 6 mL) followed by methanol (3 mL), fumonisins were eluted with 10 mL methanol containing 0.5% acetic acid. The eluate was evaporated to dryness under a stream of nitrogen at 45ºC, the residue was dissolved in methanol-water (3:1, 800 µL) and a 200 µl aliquot dried under nitrogen. After derivatization with 200 µL O-phthaldialdehyde reagent (40 mg OPA, 1 mL methanol, 5 mL 0.1M sodium borate and 50 µL 2- mercaptoethanol), HPLC injections were made within 1 min. Fumonisins were analyzed by a reversed-phase isocratic HPLC system (Shimadzu LC-10 AD pump and RF 535 fluorescence detector), using a Shim-pack CLC-ODS (M) column (4.6 x 250 mm, Shimadzu). Excitation and emission wavelengths were 335 nm and 450 nm, respectively. The eluent was CH₃OH:0.1 M NaH₂PO₄ (80:20, v/v) adjusted to pH 3.3 with ortho-phosphoric acid. The flow rate was 1 mL/min. The detection limits for FB₁ and FB₂ were 50 ng/g and 80 ng/g, respectively.

Nitrogen and lipid determination

Nitrogen and lipid content were analyzed in the 15 corn hybrids most frequently cultivated in Paraná State (n= 68 samples). Nitrogen content was determined by the Kjeldahl method (A.O.A.C., 1984, method 7015), using 6.25 as the factor to obtain the total protein content. Lipid content was determined by the Soxhlet method (I.A.L., 1985, method 4.10).

Statistical analysis

The Pearson correlation for variables (total fungal colony count, Fusarium sp. count, fumonisin levels, and damaged kernels) were analyzed by the t- test. Then the samples were subdivided into three groups based on their total fungal colony count. Total fungal colony count, Fusarium sp. count, fumonisin levels, damaged kernels and moisture content were statistically evaluated using ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test (p<0.05). Statistical analysis was performed by the 'Statistica' software version 5.0.

The protein/lipid content and fumonisin levels were analyzed by the Pearson correlation test. The data were statistically evaluated using ANOVA, followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test (p<0.05).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Total fungal colony count in 109 freshly harvested corn samples ranged from 1.9x10⁴ to 3.5x10⁶ CFU/g, Fusarium sp. count from 1.0x10³ to 2.2x10⁶ CFU/g, fumonisin levels from 0.13 to 20.38 µg/g and mean moisture content from 20.0 to 21.3% (Table 1).

The highest fungal contamination (10⁶ CFU/g) occurred in corn samples harvested in the Northern region (27.0%) followed by the Central-Western (6.8%), but in the Central-Southern samples it was lower. In samples from the Northern region, total fungal colony count ranged from 1.9x10⁴ to 3.5x10⁶ CFU/g, with Fusarium sp. count ranging from 1.0x10³ to 2.2x10⁶ CFU/g. In samples from the Central-Western region, total fungal colony count ranged from 3.6 x10⁴ to 2.1 x10⁶ CFU/g, whereas in the Central-Southern region from 3.6 x10⁴ to 3.6 x10⁵ CFU/g (data not shown). A high level of fumonisin contamination was detected in the corn samples from the Northern (range 0.57 to 20.38 µg/g) and the Central-Western (range 0.32 to 15.86 µg/g) regions, when compared to the Central-Southern 0.13 to 3.66 µg/g (data not shown). These fumonisin levels were lower than those reported in freshly harvested and stored corn samples from Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State (Orsi et al., 2000), but higher than those reported by Figueira et al. (2003) for 37 corn samples from the Northern region of Paraná State (range 0.05 to 2.67 µg/g). Figueira et al. (2003) detected lower fumonisin levels in corn samples probably due to the immediate drying after harvesting. Such a procedure probably prevented fungal growth during the interval between harvesting and drying, where the critical fumonisin production occurs, i.e. delay in drying process can quickly increase fumonisin concentration by a 10-fold factor.

The mean Fusarium sp. count was higher in samples with higher amount of damaged kernels (Table 1), although no significant differences were found among the means of damaged kernels (%) analyzed by ANOVA.

The amount of damaged kernels (range from 0.5% to 12%) was lower than that reported by Pascale et al. (1997) who detected <1% up to 60% of damaged kernels in corn ears inoculated under field conditions with F. verticillioides.

The mean fumonisin level increased gradually from 1.95 µg/g (5.4x10⁴ CFU/g) to 4.42 µg/g (3.2x10⁵ CFU/g) and 8.64 µg/g (2.0x10⁶ CFU/g) as the total fungal colony count increased (Table 1). Fumonisin levels and total fungal colony (r=0.327)/Fusarium sp. count (r=0.252) showed positive correlation (p < 0.05) (Table 2).

This was in agreement with Pascale et al. (1997) who reported a good correlation between the Fusarium ear rot index and fumonisin contamination. In addition, there was a positive correlation (Table 2) between damaged kernels and total fungal colony (r=0.203)/Fusarium sp. count (=0.305) (p < 0.05).

Table 3 compares the mycoflora profile and fumonisin levels in healthy and damaged kernels from 24 corn samples belonging to the same lot from the Northern region of Paraná State.

The fungal genera isolated from healthy kernels were Fusarium sp. (100%), Penicillium sp. (100%), Cladosporium sp. (4.2%), and yeasts (62.5%) (Fig. 1).

Total fungal colony count ranged from 1.6x10⁴ to 4.7x10⁵ CFU/g, Penicillium sp. from 3.5x10³ to 4.6x10⁵ CFU/g and Fusarium sp. from 1.0x10³ to 2.8x10⁵ CFU/g (Table 3). The same fungal genera isolated from healthy kernels were also detected in damaged kernels but in different percentage and counting: Fusarium sp. (100%), Penicillium sp. (91.6%), Aspergillus sp. (25%), Cladosporium sp. (12.5%), and yeasts (29.2%) (Fig. 1). Total fungal colony count ranged from 1.5x10⁶ to 5.5x10⁷ CFU/g, Penicillium sp. from 1.0x10⁵ to 2.5x10⁶ CFU/g and Fusarium sp. from 1.0x10⁶ to 5.5x10⁷ CFU/g. Aspergillus sp. count ranged from 1.0x10³ to 1.0x10⁵ CFU/g (Table 3).

Comparing the data from Table 3, Fusarium sp. count in damaged kernels was 10² to 10³ fold higher than those detected in healthy kernels. An interesting data was the higher frequency of yeasts by a 2-fold factor in the healthy kernels suggesting a promising application of this taxonomic group in the control of toxigenic fungi in the field.

Fumonisin levels in healthy kernels ranged from 0.57 to 20.38 µg/g (mean of 6.33 ± 4.69 µg/g), while in the damaged kernels they ranged from 68.97 to 336.38 µg/g (mean of 185.2 ± 83.19 µg/g) (Table 3). Thus, in the damaged kernels fumonisin levels were 11.5 to 166-fold higher than those found in the healthy kernels, indicating that damaged kernels accounted for almost the totality of fumonisin contamination. Only four out of 24 samples (16.7%) containing damaged kernels showed fumonisin levels below 100 µg/g (Table 3), which was 20-fold higher than the maximum levels recommended for equines (5 µg/g), 10-fold for swine (10 µg/g), 2-fold for cattle and poultry (50 µg/g) according to "Mycotoxin Committee of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians" (Munkvold and Desjardins, 1997). Moreover, fumonisin levels detected in healthy grains (0.57 to 20.38 µg/g) were higher than those reported by Pascale et al. (1997) who evaluated the accumulation of FB₁ and FB₂ in 14 corn hybrids inoculated with F. verticillioides. Fumonisins were detected in all 14 hybrids at levels ranging from 0.06 µg/g to 1.49 µg/g FB₁ and from 0.02 µg/g to 0.42 µg/g FB₂ in healthy looking kernels of inoculated ears. Fumonisin levels in Fusarium damaged kernels ranged from 5.1 µg/g to 196 µg/g FB₁ and from 1.4 µg/g to 62.0 µg/g FB₂. This fraction of kernels was visibly moldy and covered by mycelium (Pascale et al., 1997). The damaged kernels analyzed in our study showed dark points of several sizes, but they were not visibly moldy. Binkerd et al. (1993) analyzed 291 corn samples of the 1991 Indiana crop (USA) with different infection degrees for F. verticillioides. There was low correlation between the severity of infection and the fumonisin levels, suggesting that visual evaluation of samples could not be used to determine the risk of fumonisin contamination. However, Schaafsma et al. (1993) proposed the severity of ear rot to be a useful indicator of ear contamination by mycotoxins.

Table 4 shows the mean of protein and lipid content in the 15 corn hybrids most frequently cultivated in Paraná State. The protein content ranged from 8.0 to 9.92%. Hybrid G85 had the lowest protein content, while hybrid C 125 the highest value, with significant differences between some hybrids (p< 0.05).

The lipid content showed a wide range from 3.34% (hybrid C805) to 6.06% (hybrid P3063). There was no significant correlation among the fumonisin levels and the protein or lipid content (p < 0.05). These results were in accordance with Shelby et al. (1994) who analyzed fumonisin contamination in 15 commercial corn hybrids planted at 17 locations in the USA. The mean fumonisin of all hybrids at the different locations ranged from 0.5 to 48.5 µg/g. Kernel characteristics such as protein, oil, starch, and total fiber of the hybrids were not correlated with fumonisin production. The differences in fumonisin levels among commercial hybrids suggested that hybrids could be selected for areas where fumonisin contamination was a problem (Shelby et al.,1994).

The maintenance of fumonisins at undetectable levels from post-harvest to the drying interval is a challenge (Marín et al., 1999). Therefore, efforts to reduce the harvest/drying interval, as well as the constant monitoring of toxigenic fungi and fumonisin contamination in corn and corn-based foods are essential in order to assure the quality and safety of products and to minimize the potential hazards to human and animal health.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank CNPq (the Brazilian Government Organization for grant aid and fellowship to Brazilian researchers), the Araucária Foundation, FINEP and Paraná Fund (SETI) for financial support.

Received: November 16, 2004;

Revised: February 23, 2005;

Accepted: August 05, 2005.

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*

Author for correspondence

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  10 Apr 2006
• Date of issue
  Jan 2006

History

• Received
  16 Nov 2004
• Reviewed
  23 Feb 2005
• Accepted
  05 Aug 2005