Abstract
Forty-nine samples from the 1983 Virginia corn harvest were analyzed for aflatoxin, zinc, copper, iron, and manganese content. Values (mean +/- standard deviation) were as follows: aflatoxin, 117 +/- 360 micrograms/kg; zinc, 22.5 +/- 3.4 mg/kg; copper, 2.27 +/- 0.56 mg/kg; iron, 40.8 +/- 18.7 mg/kg; and manganese, 5.1 +/- 1.1 mg/kg. Aflatoxin levels positively correlated with zinc (Spearman correlation coefficient, 0.385; P less than 0.006) and copper levels (Spearman correlation coefficient, 0.573; P less than 0.0001). Based on biochemical data in the literature, we believe that the correlation with zinc is important and that there may be a cause-and-effect relationship between zinc levels in corn and aflatoxin levels which are produced upon infection with Aspergillus flavus or A. parasiticus. Control of aflatoxin contamination in field corn by decreasing the zinc levels may be feasible, but no methods to decrease zinc levels are currently available.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bassir O., Adekunle A. A. Production of aflatoxin B 1 from defined natural cultures of Aspergillus flavus (Link). Mycopathol Mycol Appl. 1972 Mar 26;46(3):241–246. doi: 10.1007/BF02053412. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bennett J. W., Rubin P. L., Lee L. S., Chen P. N. Influence of trace elements and nitrogen sources on versicolorin production by a mutant strain of Aspergillus parasiticus. Mycopathologia. 1979 Dec 28;69(3):161–166. doi: 10.1007/BF00452829. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jones F. T., Hagler W. M., Hamilton P. B. Correlation of aflatoxin contamination with zinc content of chicken feed. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1984 Mar;47(3):478–480. doi: 10.1128/aem.47.3.478-480.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lillehoj E. B., Garcia W. J., Lambrow M. Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin production in corn: influence of trace elements. Appl Microbiol. 1974 Nov;28(5):763–767. doi: 10.1128/am.28.5.763-767.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MATELES R. I., ADYE J. C. PRODUCTION OF AFLATOXINS IN SUBMERGED CULTURE. Appl Microbiol. 1965 Mar;13:208–211. doi: 10.1128/am.13.2.208-211.1965. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Marsh P. B., Simpson M. E., Trucksess M. W. Effects of trace metals on the production of aflatoxins by Aspergillus parasiticus. Appl Microbiol. 1975 Jul;30(1):52–57. doi: 10.1128/am.30.1.52-57.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Obidoa O., Ndubuisi I. E. The role of zinc in the aflatoxigenic potential of Aspergillus flavus NRRL 3251 on foodstuffs. Mycopathologia. 1981 Apr 10;74(1):3–6. doi: 10.1007/BF00441434. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]