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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
10:01
Quantification of Fungal Colonization, Sporogenesis, and Production of Mycotoxins Using Kernel Bioassays
Published on: April 23, 2012
Fungi and selected mycotoxins from pre- and postfermented corn silage.
M L González Pereyra1, V A Alonso, R Sager
1Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
Journal of Applied Microbiology
|November 17, 2007
Summary
This study found common fungi, including Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides, and mycotoxins like aflatoxin B(1) and deoxynivalenol, in Argentine corn silage. This highlights potential risks for animal and human health from this feed commodity.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Mycology
- Food Safety
Background:
- Corn silage is a significant feed commodity, increasingly used globally.
- Understanding fungal and mycotoxin contamination is crucial for animal and human health.
- Argentine silage practices and environmental conditions may differ from other regions, necessitating specific research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify fungal genera and species in pre- and post-fermented corn silage.
- To quantify contamination levels of key mycotoxins: aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)), zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), and fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)).
- To assess silage quality in Argentina's primary silage production region.
Main Methods:
- Manual sampling from three levels (upper, middle, low) of corn silos.
- Quantification of AFB(1) and FB(1) using high-performance liquid chromatography.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for ZEA and gas chromatography for DON detection.
Main Results:
- Over 90% of samples exceeded 1 x 10(4) CFU g(-1) fungal counts.
- Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides were the most prevalent fungal species identified.
- Contamination with AFB(1), ZEA, DON, and FB(1) was detected in some of the tested silage samples.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms the presence of fungi and mycotoxins in Argentine corn silage.
- This research contributes valuable data on mycotoxin profiles in a region with distinct environmental conditions.
- Findings are essential for evaluating potential health risks associated with silage consumption.
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