Mycotoxicological quality evaluation of corn samples used by processing industries in the Northern region of Paraná State, Brazil

Abstract

Based on fungal and fumonisin contamination of 870 freshly harvested samples, the quality of corn used by processing industries in the Northern region of Paraná State, Brazil (2003 and 2004 crop-year) was evaluated. Sampling was carried out for each crop at two points in the production chain, i.e. at reception by the processors and at the pre-drying step. Corn samples were more frequently contaminated with Fusarium sp. (100%) and Penicillium sp. (84.1–95.3%) than Aspergillus sp. (5.6–19.8%). Fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) was detected in all samples from the two points in both crop-years. FB₁ levels ranged 0.02–11.83 µg g⁻¹ in the reception and 0.02–10.98 µg g⁻¹ in the pre-drying samples of the 2003 crop. Samples from the 2004 crop showed FB₁ levels ranging 0.03–12.04 µg g⁻¹ in the reception and 0.06–7.74 µg g⁻¹ in the pre-drying samples. FB₂ levels ranged 0.02–5.25 µg g⁻¹ in the reception and 0.01–7.89 µg g⁻¹ in the pre-drying samples (2003 crop-year). In samples from the 2004 crop, FB₂ levels ranged 0.02–6.12 µg g⁻¹ in the reception and 0.05–3.47 µg g⁻¹ in the pre-drying samples. Low fumonisin levels were detected in most corn samples used by processors in the Northern region of Paraná State, showing a decreasing trend in fumonisin contamination over the years.

Keywords:

• corn production chain
• fumonisins
• mycoflora
• pre-drying step

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the FINEP, CNPq (the Brazilian Government organization for grant aid and fellowship to Brazilian researchers), the Araucária Foundation, Paraná Fund/SETI and CAPES (Coordination for Formation of High Level Professionals) for financial support. They are also grateful to ADETEC (Agency for Technological Development of Londrina city and Region) for project management, especially to Dr Maria Victoria E. Grossmann and Dr Plinio Pinto Mendonça Uchoa Jr., as well as the Integrada Cooperativa Agroindustrial, Caramuru Alimentos Ltda. and Kowalski Alimentos Ltda. for providing corn samples and for financial support.