Effect of oat cultivar on ochratoxin A accumulation following grain inoculation with Penicillium verrucosum

Abstract

AbstractBackground and objectivesOchratoxin A (OTA) is a carcinogenic and nephrotoxic mycotoxin produced by various Penicillium and Aspergillus species. Cereal grains, including oats, are among the food sources that can be contaminated with OTA. Grains of twelve oat cultivars grown in seven environments were inoculated with P. verrucosum and incubated at 0.90 aw and 22.5°C for 7 weeks. Our objectives were to (a) determine the effect of cultivar and growing environment on OTA contamination in oat grain and (b) identify oat grain characteristics associated with OTA accumulation.FindingsThe effect of the cultivar was significant in two of the environments considered. When data from all seven environments were combined for analysis, significant differences among oat cultivars were also observed. Grain composition and grain physical characteristics were determined to identify characteristics associated with OTA accumulation. We found that test weight, groat percent, the proportion of plump groats, and groat oil content were significantly correlated with the level of OTA accumulation in the grains.ConclusionsSignificant differences among genotypes for level of OTA accumulation suggest that cultivars with lower levels of OTA accumulation can be used to help mitigate risks of OTA contamination in oat grain.Significance and noveltyThis study is the first to report differences among oat cultivars for OTA accumulation.