Validation and Application of a Low-Cost Sorting Device for Fumonisin Reduction in Maize.

William Stafstrom,Rebecca J. Nelson,Wenwei Xu,Nnenna Ezera,Julie Wushensky,John Fuchs

doi:10.3390/toxins13090652

Abstract

Fumonisin mycotoxins are a persistent challenge to human and livestock health in tropical and sub-tropical maize cropping systems, and more efficient methods are needed to reduce their presence in food systems. We constructed a novel, low-cost device for sorting grain, the “DropSort”, and tested its effectiveness on both plastic kernel models and fumonisin-contaminated maize. Sorting plastic kernels of known size and shape enabled us to optimize the sorting performance of the DropSort. The device sorted maize into three distinct fractions as measured by bulk density and 100-kernel weight. The level of fumonisin was lower in the heaviest fractions of maize compared to the unsorted samples. Based on correlations among fumonisin and bulk characteristics of each fraction, we found that light fraction 100-kernel weight could be an inexpensive proxy for unsorted fumonisin concentration. Single kernel analysis revealed significant relationships among kernel fumonisin content and physical characteristics that could prove useful for future sorting efforts. The availability of a low-cost device (materials~USD 300) that can be used to reduce fumonisin in maize could improve food safety in resource-limited contexts in which fumonisin contamination remains a pressing challenge.

Highlights

Fungal infection and mycotoxin contamination of crops is a global food safety hazard.The fumonisins, a class of toxic secondary fungal metabolites produced primarily by Fusarium spp., are some of the most ubiquitous mycotoxins in maize
Six distinct plastic kernelplastic model kernel sets were created had the same dif- volume but masses and densities, rejection rates weresetting measured at each setting for ferent massesdifferent and densities, and rejection ratesand were measured at each for multiple multiple re-sorting passes
We showed that the DropSort reduced bulk and log10-transformed fumonisin)Using for 72 heavy fraction kernels (a) and light fraction kernels (b) indicates plastic kernel models, we demonstrated that the DropSort rejected pkernel value ≥ 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

Fungal infection and mycotoxin contamination of crops is a global food safety hazard. The fumonisins, a class of toxic secondary fungal metabolites (hereafter collectively referred to as “fumonisin”) produced primarily by Fusarium spp., are some of the most ubiquitous mycotoxins in maize. Fumonisin presents challenges across a range of agricultural systems and is most prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical food systems where the fungal pathogen. Strategies to mitigate fumonisins have focused on prevention or reduction at multiple points along the food value chain, such as breeding and releasing resistant varieties, using good agronomic practices, biological controls, pesticide applications, optimizing storage conditions, improving sorting and cleaning operations, post-harvest enzymatic detoxification, and a wide variety of processing and cooking techniques [20,21,22]. Hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) approaches for mycotoxin mitigation have been developed to integrate such strategies, and sorting is frequently included as an essential step [23]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion