Mycotoxin Production Research Articles

Biodiversity of Aspergillus Species and Their Mycotoxin Production Potential in Dry Meat.

This study aimed to examine fungi diversity in dried beef meat sold in Ekiti State, characterize the isolated fungi, and determine the aflatoxin-producing ability of the Aspergillus fungi in the samples. Dried beef meat was collected from different markets in Ekiti State and screened for the presence of filamentous fungi using molecular methods. Samples were cultured aseptically on potato dextrose agar (PDA) for fungi isolation, and molecular identification was performed using DNA extraction, Polymerase chain Reaction (PCR), ITS-1/ITS-4 primer pair, and nucleotide sequencing. The results obtained indicated a range of filamentous fungi genera including Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Cladosporium, Alternaria, and other fungi species contaminating the dried meat at (43%), (42%), (3%), (2%), (2%), (1%), and (7%), respectively. High incidences were recorded for Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus fumigatus in most of the screened samples. Aspergillus flavus accounted for (24.7%) of all the Aspergillus species isolated with the presence of the gene needed for aflatoxin production. The occurrences of these filamentous fungal species pose a cause for concern, as most of these fungal species are known producers of certain toxic substances. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis showed a high similarity index score, which indicated a good relationship between isolated Aspergillus Species and the closely related strains from GenBank, isolated from different sources and countries. The implication of this study is that consumer health may be at risk through exposure to contaminated dried meat.

Fermentation by Penicillium polonicum improves the functional components and biological effects of orange peel via producing β-glucosidase without the risk of potential mycotoxins

This paper presented the initial investigation into the impact of Penicillium polonicum fermentation on the functional components and bioactivities of navel orange peel. The fermentation process resulted in a notable enhancement of the total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity, antibacterial activity, and antiglycation activity of orange peel. Eighteen flavonoids were isolated and identified from the ethanolic extract of fermented orange peel (FEE) by employing chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. The results of the HPLC analysis showed that three flavanones (naringenin, hesperetin, and isosakuranetin) were newly produced and present in high concentrations in FEE, with hesperetin being the most abundant component (39.74 mg/g) in comparison to the ethanolic extract of unfermented orange peel (EE). The TPC, TFC, antioxidant, and antiglycation activities of FEE, as well as the enzymatic activity of β-glucosidase in the fermented orange peels, showed a gradual increase with the progression of fermentation time over a five-month period. HPLC analysis revealed that the fermentation metabolites generated by P. polonicum in rice and orange peel media exhibited distinct profiles, indicating that the fermentation of orange peel by P. polonicum did not result in the production of potential mycotoxins. The findings of this study provided a scientific basis for the high-value utilization of navel orange peels and established a reference point for the potential applications of other peel byproducts via microbial fermentation.

Assessment of Fungal and Contamination of Ochratoxin A and Patulin in Foods Susceptible to Contamination in the Yangzhou Market, China

The conducive conditions of warm and humid climates can facilitate mold proliferation and subsequent mycotoxin production during food processing and distribution, thereby posing a potential risk to consumer health. However, there exists a significant lack of research regarding the diversity of molds and the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) and patulin (PAT) in food products available in the Yangzhou market. This study was conducted to assess OTA contamination levels and fungal presence in 57 cereal-based food samples, as well as PAT contamination levels and fungal presence in 50 types of foods, including apples, hawthorn berries, pears, and their derivatives. Ochratoxin A (OTA) was detected in 17 out of 57 cereal-based food samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.93 to 32.69 μg/kg. The contamination rate was determined to be 31.48%, and no samples exceeded the established regulatory limits. Furthermore, seven apple products were identified as contaminated with patulin (PAT), exhibiting concentrations between 26.85 and 192.78 μg/kg. Additionally, three food samples derived from hawthorn showed PAT contamination levels ranging from 29.83 to 88.56 μg/kg. Through purification on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium, observation of colony morphology, and analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, a total of 35 fungal strains belonging to 13 genera were identified in cereal-based foods. The predominant genera in cereals included Talaromyces, Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. Additionally, twelve fungal strains from five genera (Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aureobasidium, Curvularia, and Alternaria) were isolated and identified in fruits and their derivatives. The findings indicate that OTA and PAT toxins are one of the important risk factors that threaten consumer health. Furthermore, the contamination of some other toxigenic strains is also a matter of substantial concern, with potential implications for consumer health.

Antioxidant, Nutritional Properties, Microbiological, and Health Safety of Juice from Organic and Conventional 'Solaris' Wine (Vitis vinifera L.) Farming.

This study investigated the technological parameters, microbiological, and functional properties of juice from Solaris grapes grown under conventional and organic farming systems to assess how these cultivation methods influence juice quality. The one-year study focused on key aspects such as the levels of health-promoting polyphenols, the presence of mycotoxins, and pesticide residues. Organic grapes showed greater bacterial and fungal diversity, with significant differences in dominant genera. Sphingomonas and Massilia were the predominant bacteria across both systems, while Erysiphe was more common in conventional grapes, and Aureobasidium was abundant in both. Despite the presence of genes for mycotoxin production, no mycotoxins were detected in the juice or pomace. Organic juice exhibited significantly higher levels of polyphenols, leading to enhanced antioxidant properties and improved technological characteristics, including lower acidity and higher nitrogen content. However, residues of sulfur and copper, used in organic farming, were detected in the juice, while conventional juice contained synthetic pesticide residues like cyprodinil and fludioxonil. These findings highlight that while organic juice offers better quality and safety in terms of polyphenol content and antioxidant activity, it also carries risks related to residues from organic treatments, and conventional juice poses risks due to synthetic pesticide contamination.

High-throughput Identification of Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in Wheat Varieties Using Field Robot-Assisted Imaging and Deep Learning Techniques

Fusarium head blight (FHB) has attracted much attention in food science and agriculture for its threat to wheat yields and food safety, due to the production of mycotoxins like deoxynivalenol (DON). Breeding of wheat varieties with improved FHB resistance is essential for controlling this disease. However, identifying resistance in different materials during variety selection remains time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, this paper proposed a high-throughput method for the evaluation of FHB disease symptoms. It enabled the semiautomatic acquisition of images of individual wheat ears in a field environment with the aid of a field robot. The images obtained were semantically segmented to get a single wheat ear, from which the infected spikelets (ISs) were extracted, and then the disease degree was calculated. The results showed that the accuracy value of the individual wheat ear using DeepLabV3+ reached 0.996. The accuracy value of ISs was over 0.98. The mean Accuracy of this method for identifying the resistance of varieties was 0.967, and the precision of a single severity grade reached 0.980. The results indicate that the proposed method enables the acquisition and extraction of disease phenotype and rapid identification of resistance to FHB. The study also provides a reference for accurately identifying phenotypes of wheat ears in other field environments and for selecting and breeding other fungal-toxin-resistant varieties.

Molecular identification and morphological characterisation of multiple fungal pathogens of triticale in Northern Kazakhstan

Background and Aim. Тtriticale is classified as an amphidiploids and is the first grain crop created by humans, possessing high yield potential along with favorable biochemical and technological characteristics. For a long time, it was believed that triticale, during selection, inherited disease resistance from wheat and resistance to abiotic factors from rye. However, in recent years, there have been several reports that triticale is to fungal diseases, which reduces the quality of the harvested crop. The aim of our study is to examine and characterize the fungal pathogens of triticale in Northern Kazakhstan, and conduct molecular-genetic identification of the main fungal pathogens.MaterialsandMethods. The study was conducted of triticale from two varieties, Dauren and Rossika. Primary fungal isolation was carried out on agarized nutrient media, with preliminary identification using microscopy. Molecular genetic analysis was performed to determine the species of fungi. Results. During the study, we isolated five major fungal pathogens from different parts of the plant. Data on the percentage of infection by the main fungal pathogens were provided. Three of them are pathogens of alternariosis – Alternaria alternate (more common in grains 39%, in leaves and scales of seeds 19-21%), fusariosis – Fusarium tricinctum (occurrence: in roots 57%, in grains 17%, in leaves 10%) and helminthosporiosis – Bipolaris sorokiniana (occurrence in roots and leaves 0.83%) of grain crops, which can lead to a decrease and loss of yield due to their production of mycotoxins. A cultural and morphological description of the main fungal pathogens of grain crops was provided. Moleculargenetic identification was carried out using the ribosomal marker ITS (internal transcribed spacer).Conclusion. According to result of our research, we characterized and molecular-genetically identified the most common fungi found on different parts of the triticale plant.

RNAi-Based Approaches to Control Mycotoxin Producers: Challenges and Perspectives.

Mycotoxin contamination of food and feed is a worldwide problem that needs to be addressed with highly efficient and biologically safe techniques. RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural mechanism playing an important role in different processes in eukaryotes, including the regulation of gene expression, maintenance of genome stability, protection against viruses and others. Recently, RNAi-based techniques have been widely applied for the purposes of food safety and management of plant diseases, including those caused by mycotoxin-producing fungi. In this review, we summarize the current state-of-the-art RNAi-based approaches for reducing the aggressiveness of key toxigenic fungal pathogens and mycotoxin contamination of grain and its products. The ways of improving RNAi efficiency for plant protection and future perspectives of this technique, including progress in methods of double-stranded RNA production and its delivery to the target cells, are also discussed.

Citrus exosome-modified exogenous dsRNA delivery reduces plant pathogen resistance and mycotoxin production

Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PENs) are crucial for intercellular communication. However, PEN-based transport of pathogenic fungal genes remains unclear. This study isolated and purified PENs from lane late navel orange citrus juice by following the sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation technique. Citrus PENs were round and oval-shaped with an average size of 154.5 ± 1.9 nm. Electroporation-based exogenous dsRNA to PENs loading efficiency remained at 6.0 %. Laser confocal microscopy was employed to investigate citrus PEN uptake by fungal spores. dsCrcB loaded PENs inhibited the CrcB gene expression in spores to alleviate Penicillium italicum resistance against prochloraz fungicide, which promoted resistant strains' mortality by 10-fold. Moreover, dsFUM21-loaded PENs suppressed the FUM21 gene expression in spores, which significantly reduced FB1 production in Fusarium proliferatum. These findings suggest that citrus PENs could potentially serve as nano-carriers to counter fungicide resistance and mycotoxin production in pathogenic plant fungi.

Effect of Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Incubation Time on the Mycotoxin Production by Fusarium spp. Responsible for Dry Rot in Potato Tubers.

Potato is the fourth most consumed crop in the world. More than half of the crop is stored for three to nine months at cold temperatures (3-10 °C) for the fresh and seed market. One of the main causes of fresh potato waste in the retail supply chain is the processing of fungal and bacterial rots during storage. Dry rot is a fungal disease that mainly affects the potato crop during storage and is responsible for 1% of tuber losses in the UK. It is produced by Fusarium spp., such as Fusarium sambucinum and F. oxysporum, which can lead to the accumulation of mycotoxins in the potato tuber. Little is known about the impact of environmental factors on the accumulation of mycotoxins in potato tubers. Understanding the ecophysiology of these fungi is key to mitigating their occurrence under commercial storage conditions. Therefore, this work aimed to elucidate the effect of three different temperatures (5, 10, and 15 °C) and two different water activities (aw; 0.97, 0.99) on the ecophysiology and mycotoxin accumulation of F. sambucinum and F. oxysporum in a potato-based semi-synthetic medium. The mycotoxin accumulation was then studied in vivo, in potato tubers cultivated under organic farming conditions, stored for 40 days at 8.5 °C. Results showed that higher temperatures and aw enhanced fungal growth, lag time, and mycotoxin accumulation in vitro. Growth rate was 2 and 3.6 times higher when the temperature increased from 5 to 10 and 15 °C, respectively. Six different mycotoxins (T-2, HT-2, diacetoxyscirpenol, 15-acetoxyscirpenol, neosolaniol, and beauvericin) were detected in vitro and in vivo. T-2 was the most abundant mycotoxin detected in vitro, observing 106 ng of T-2/g media after 21 days of incubation at 10 °C and 0.99 aw. Due to the long period of time that potato tubers spend in storage, the fluctuations of environmental factors, such as temperature and relative humidity, could promote the development of fungal rot, as well as mycotoxin accumulation. This could result in important food and economic losses for the potato market and a threat to food safety.

Co-Occurrence of Fusarium and Alternaria Metabolites in Brewing Barley Monitored during Two Consecutive Years (2019-2020).

Known mycotoxins have been investigated for years. They have been included in legislation and are meticulously controlled in most cereals, cereal-related products, and raw materials of animal origin. However, there are still mycotoxins that need to be addressed by regulations and subsequently are not monitored but can still occur in relatively high concentrations. This research aimed to assess the occurrence of common Fusarium mycotoxins in hulled barley. Samples of hulled barley were treated in the field with two protective treatments, alongside a control sample sans treatment. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the occurrence of Alternaria mycotoxins in the chosen samples. The results have shown that Fusarium mycotoxins were mostly determined by climatic conditions (no mycotoxins in 2020, except siccanol). Most interesting was the appearance of infectopyron, an Alternaria toxin that was detected in all samples in 2019 and in the majority of samples in 2020. The highest concentration was detected in 2019 in hulled barley with 536 µg/kg, while in 2020, the highest concentration of this mycotoxin reached 350 µg/kg. These findings depict the need for further research on food safety regarding mycotoxins, and the need for additional changes in legislation. This investigation shows that fungicide application in rainy years cannot efficiently suppress mycotoxin production. Additionally, even in dry years, some of the mycotoxins not involved in legislation, such as infectopyron and siccanol, do not respond to the application of fungicides.

Limited Effectiveness of Penicillium camemberti in Preventing the Invasion of Contaminating Molds in Camembert Cheese.

Mold-ripened cheese acquires a distinctive aroma and texture from mold cultures that mature on a fresh cheese wheel. Owing to its high moisture content (aw = 0.95) and pliability, soft cheese is prone to contamination. Many contaminating mold species are unable to grow at colder temperatures, and the lactic acid produced by the cheese bacteria inhibits further infiltration. Thus, Camembert cheese is generally well protected against contamination by a wide range of species. In this study, cocultures of Penicillium camemberti and widely distributed mycotoxin-producing mold species were incubated on different types of agars, and purchased Camembert samples were deliberately contaminated with mycotoxin-producing mold species capable of growing at both 25 °C and 4 °C. The production of mycotoxins was then monitored by the extraction of the metabolites and their subsequent measurement by means of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based targeted metabolite profiling approach. The production of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) was highly dependent on the species cocultivated with Penicillium camemberti, the temperature and the substrate. Contamination of Camembert cheese with Penicillium chrysogenum, Mucor hiemalis, or Penicillium glabrum induced CPA production at 25 °C. Although mold growth on cheese was not always evident on biofilms for certain cultures, except for Penicillium citrinum, which stained the monosaccharide agar yellow, mycotoxins were detected in many agar and cheese samples, as in all monosaccharide agar samples. In conclusion, cheese should be immediately discarded upon the first appearance of mold.

Isolation and characterization of koji mold (Aspergillus oryzae) from nature in Niigata

Koji mold (Aspergillus oryzae) is a key microorganism in brewing and fermentation in Japan. We isolated koji molds from the environment in Niigata Prefecture. Eighty-one environmental samples were placed on isolation medium made from steamed rice with wood ash and 36 Aspergillus section Flavi-like strains were obtained. Of those, 26 strains did not produce aflatoxin. We studied their morphology, sequence of ITS region, calmodulin gene, aflatoxin biosynthetic homologous gene cluster and α-amylase gene and fermentation-related enzyme activities. Furthermore, DNA-seq analysis of 14 strains from 26 non-aflatoxin producing strains were conducted and compared the three mycotoxin biosynthetic gene clusters (aflatoxin, cyclopiazonic acid, and aflatrem) and fermentation-related genes against those of reference strain A.oryzae RIB40. In some strains, gene sequences confirmed the absence of mycotoxin production, but differences in fermentation-related enzyme activities could not be explained well by amino acid substitutions. We classified the 26 isolates into 6 morphology types based on the appearance of colonies and mating types, and it was found that strains of the same morphology type had similar enzymatic profiles and gene sequences. Our results show that koji molds with various properties occur in the environment, and it will expand the possibilities of koji mold in industrial use.

Biocontrol Potential of Endophytic Fungi against Orobanche Infestations in Fruit Crops: A Case Study in Delta State, Nigeria

This study investigated the potential of endophytic fungi as biocontrol agents against Orobanche infestations in fruit crops such as chickpea, soybean, lentil, and pea plants from different sites in Ika agricultural habitats in Delta State, Nigeria, using appropriate standard methods. Fusarium sp. showed significant inhibition of Orobanche crenata (75%) by mycotoxin production and Penicillium sp. (65%) by biocombustion. Field trials showed a significant reduction in Orobanche-infested areas, with Fusarium sp. (40% to 10%) and Penicillium sp. (30% to 10%) treatments showing significant yield improvement (20% and 22%, respectively). The study concluded that selected fungi, especially Fusarium sp. and Penicillium sp., are effective control agents for Orobanche in legume crops. This information contributes to sustainable agriculture by providing environmentally friendly alternatives to pesticides, crop yields, and economic losses from plants, and it reduces the incidence of pests.

A comprehensive review: Advancements in nanomaterials on the risk prevention, detection, and elimination of mycotoxin contamination

Mycotoxins are poison that filamentous fungi generate under specific conditions. Mycotoxins in food and feed have a detrimental effect on both human and animal health, resulting in significant financial losses for agriculture sector. Despite the continuing advancement of traditional approaches, modern research trends favor novel alternatives. Therefore, it is crucial to prevent mycotoxin contamination, which has raised concerns around the globe. Recent advancements in the management of mycotoxin contamination have been possible by the application of promising new nanomaterials. Mycotoxins have negative impacts on human health, but nanotechnology methods appear to be viable, efficient, and affordable solutions. This review elucidates information on the incidence and toxicology of mycotoxins. Nanotechnology’s potential for removal of mycotoxins is mentioned briefly. Then, attention is directed on using newly developed nanomaterials to regulate mycotoxin contamination, such as testing, production, inhibition, adsorption, and removal of mycotoxins. The issues regarding the toxicity, incidence, and management of mycotoxins are tentatively presented along with potential prospects for using nanotechnology to remove mycotoxins from food and feed.

Identification and Characterization of Multi-Mycotoxins Recovered from Dry Corn in Selected Markets in Enugu Metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria

Corn is an important food crop that forms a major meal plan in Nigeria. Its high nutritious value also makes it perfect for fungi to thrive and produce its metabolites. Mycotoxin is a fungi metabolite that is toxic to both humans and animals. This study aimed at isolation of fungi from corn vended in selected markets in Enugu metropolis, identification and characterization of mycotoxin produced from the isolates. A total of 9 corn samples were collected from 3 different markets in Enugu metropolis comprising of Emene ,Ogbete and New markets respectively . The samples were cultured on potatoes dextrose agar for isolation, isolates were identified and characterized by cultural, biochemical and microscopic analysis of the organisms; selected isolates were further characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The isolates were subjected for mycotoxin production by culturing in potatoe dextrose broth for 14 days at 35°C after which the filtrates were assayed for the presence of mycotoxin using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and individual aflatoxins were further characterized using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). From the study, Fusarium and Aspergillus flavus occurred at 66% respectively, Aspergillus niger at 55%, Mucor spp at 77%, Penicillium spp at 33%, and Aspergillus fumigates at 44%. PCR amplified products of the selected isolates showed positive amplification at 650bp for internal transcribed spacer gene. Mycotoxins identified from isolates were aflatotoxin, ochratoxin A (OTA), citrinin, patulin, citreoviridin, T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), diacetoxyscirpenol, zearalenone (ZEN), nivalenol, Ht-2 toxin, cyclopiazonic acid with ochratoxin A, Diacetoxyscirpenol and Ht-2 toxin being above consumption limit at 2.64ug/kg,1.27ug/kg and 424.48ug/kg respectively. The isolates showed varied concentration of individual aflatoxins comprising of B1, B2, G1 and G2. These aflatoxins were produced by Aspergillus flavus strain ZMXL11, Aspergillus flavus strain AF-13, and Penicillium citrinin PEN-65 among, B1 was found to be above the maximum limit at 99% in all the isolates.Aflatoxin has been found as to be a group 1 carcinogen implicated in liver cancer. Constant consumption of mycotoxin contaminated corn could lead to varying health risk that includes liver cancer, kidney and gastrointestinal disturbances. This study showed that corn sold in selected markets in Enugu metropolis were contaminated with mycotoxigenic fungi that produced high levels of mycotoxin concentrations which is of public health concern.

Aromatic Herbs of the Lamiaceae Family as Functional Ingredients in Wheat Tortilla

The rationale for this research is the investigation of the potential health benefits as well as the antibacterial and antifungal properties of selected aromatic plants from the Lamiaceae family, which may lead to the development of improved functional foods. The present study investigated the effects of incorporating dried aromatic plants Thymus vulgaris, Thymus serpyllum, Thymus × citriodorus, Origanum vulgare and Rosmarinus officinalis at a concentration of 1% in refined wheat flour and wholemeal flour on the production of functional tortillas. Sensory analysis was employed to identify the optimal 1% addition, with the objective of achieving a favorable flavor and aroma profile. It was hypothesized that this addition would affect water activity, moisture, texture, color, antioxidant content and phenolic content, thereby enhancing the tortillas as a source of bioactive compounds. The results indicated that the type of flour used had a significant impact on the water activity of the tortillas, with wholemeal flour resulting in higher water activity than refined flour. The water activity ranged between 0.735 and 0.821, while the water content remained relatively stable. The water activity in whole-grain tortillas was significantly higher than that of refined flour tortillas, with a value exceeding 0.8, which makes them susceptible to mold growth and the production of mycotoxins. The sensory evaluations indicated that the enriched refined flour tortillas with common thyme (Thymus vulgaris), lemon thyme (Thymus × citriodorus) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) were rated highly; a similar result was observed for the whole-grain tortillas enriched with wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and lemon thyme. The whole-grain tortillas with rosemary were rated the highest of all the tortillas. The addition of aromatic plants increased the phenolic content and the antioxidant potential, depending on the flour type and the plant used. The addition of wild thyme and rosemary resulted in a significant increase in the phenolic content of wheat tortillas, while all enriched whole-grain tortillas exhibited a higher phenolic content than the control samples. The highest phenolic content in whole-grain tortillas was found in those fortified with rosemary, oregano and wild thyme. The highest antioxidant content was recorded in tortillas prepared with rosemary, irrespective of whether the flour used was refined or wholemeal. Fourteen phenolic compounds were tentatively identified in aromatic plants tested. The main phenolic compounds in Origanum vulgare were flavonoids. Rosmarinic acid was the dominant phenolic compound in rosemary and all thyme species, reaching the highest level in rosemary. Such high levels of rosmarinic acid may be responsible for the high antioxidant and total phenolic contents observed in rosemary extracts and also in tortillas when this plant is included in the recipe. The results of this study indicate that selected aromatic plants, particularly rosemary, have the potential to be utilized as functional ingredients in bakery products. By incorporating dried aromatic plants from the Lamiaceae family into wheat flour tortillas, food manufacturers can create products that not only taste better but also provide added health benefits. The use of selected herbs can improve the nutritional profile of tortillas by increasing antioxidant properties and, due to the properties of herbs, extend the shelf life of the product.

Quantitative Trait Loci Analysis of Maize Husk Characteristics Associated with Gibberella Ear Rot Resistance

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a vital crop susceptible to Gibberella ear rot (GER), a disease caused by Fusarium graminearum, resulting in significant yield losses and mycotoxin production. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between ear characteristics and GER resistance in 74 maize inbred lines (42 with non-stiff stalks and 32 stiff stalks) adapted to the northern Italian environment. Mycotoxin analysis was performed to assess the presence of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA). The results showed a positive correlation between the husk traits, like the husk number and husk cover, and GER resistance in both heterotic groups. A positive correlation was also found between the DON and ZEA concentrations. In addition, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) which identified novel quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the husk number, husk cover, ear attitude, and infection score. These QTLs can be utilized in marker-assisted selection for breeding new GER-resistant maize varieties. Our study provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of ear traits and their relationship with GER resistance, which can contribute to an improvement in the environmental and economical sustainability of the corn growing system.

Preventing Fungal Spoilage from Raw Materials to Final Product: Innovative Preservation Techniques for Fruit Fillings.

Spoilage fungi are a significant cause of financial loss in the food and beverage industry each year. These fungi thrive in challenging environments characterized by low acidity, low water activity and high sugar content, all of which are common in fruit fillings used in pastry products. Fruit fillings are therefore highly susceptible to fungal spoilage. Fungal growth can cause sensory defects in foods, such as changes in appearance, odor, flavor or texture, and can pose health risks due to the production of mycotoxins by certain mold species. To reduce food loss and waste and extend product shelf-life, it is critical that we prevent fungal spoilage. Synthetic chemicals such as sorbic acid and potassium sorbate are commonly used as preservatives to prevent fungal spoilage. However, with consumer demand for 'natural' and 'chemical-free' foods, research into clean-label preservative alternatives to replace chemical preservatives has increased. The objectives of this review are (i) to provide an overview of the sources of fungal contamination in fruit filling production systems, from pre-harvest of raw materials to storage of the final product, and to identify key control factors; and (ii) to discuss preservation techniques (both conventional and novel) that can prevent fungal growth and extend the shelf-life of fruit fillings.

Assessing the effect of provitamin a on maize field resistance to aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination

Vitamin A deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa is mainly being addressed through crop biofortification. Several high provitamin A (PVA) maize varieties have been released as part of these measures. However, these varieties are grown in areas where Aspergillus ear rot (AER) and Fusarium ear rot (FER) frequently occur, leading to contamination with mycotoxins, which in turn reduce the yield and grain quality. Chronic mycotoxin exposure leads to serious public health problems. Therefore, PVA maize varieties should be resistant to mycotoxin contamination. In a previous study, we generated 120 PVA hybrids by crossing 60 PVA inbreds and two testers with contrasting PVA content. Several inbreds resistant to aflatoxin were detected through laboratory-based kernel screening assays. In the current study, 21 PVA inbred lines with varying carotenoid content inoculated with toxigenic isolates of A. flavus and F. verticillioides were evaluated in field trials conducted at two locations in Nigeria for resistance to ear rots and mycotoxin production. Inbred lines resistant to AER, FER, aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination were identified. High PVA inbred lines were less susceptible to the ear rots, aflatoxin, and fumonisin than those with low PVA content. There were negative correlations between PVA content and each of AER (r = −0.28, P < 0.0001), FER (r = −0.37, P < 0.0001), aflatoxin (r = −0.15, P < 0.05), and fumonisin (r = −0.27, P < 0.0001). Three promising inbred lines were resistant to both aflatoxin and fumonisin. Moreover, the inbred TZI1715 combined resistance to AER, FER, aflatoxin, and fumonisin with desirable general combining ability for high β-carotene and total PVA content. These results suggest that the PVA biofortified maize developed to address vitamin A deficiency can also contribute to reduced exposure to aflatoxin and fumonisin.

Involvement of LaeA and Velvet Proteins in Regulating the Production of Mycotoxins and Other Fungal Secondary Metabolites.

Fungi are rich sources of secondary metabolites of agrochemical, pharmaceutical, and food importance, such as mycotoxins, antibiotics, and antitumor agents. Secondary metabolites play vital roles in fungal pathogenesis, growth and development, oxidative status modulation, and adaptation/resistance to various environmental stresses. LaeA contains an S-adenosylmethionine binding site and displays methyltransferase activity. The members of velvet proteins include VeA, VelB, VelC, VelD and VosA for each member with a velvet domain. LaeA and velvet proteins can form multimeric complexes such as VosA-VelB and VelB-VeA-LaeA. They belong to global regulators and are mainly impacted by light. One of their most important functions is to regulate gene expressions that are responsible for secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The aim of this mini-review is to represent the newest cognition of the biosynthetic regulation of mycotoxins and other fungal secondary metabolites by LaeA and velvet proteins. In most cases, LaeA and velvet proteins positively regulate production of fungal secondary metabolites. The regulated fungal species mainly belong to the toxigenic fungi from the genera of Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Fusarium, Magnaporthe, Monascus, and Penicillium for the production of mycotoxins. We can control secondary metabolite production to inhibit the production of harmful mycotoxins while promoting the production of useful metabolites by global regulation of LaeA and velvet proteins in fungi. Furthermore, the regulation by LaeA and velvet proteins should be a practical strategy in activating silent biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in fungi to obtain previously undiscovered metabolites.