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  Pak. J. Bot., 44(1): 231-236, 2012.

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  Updated: 03-02-12

 

 

NATURAL OCCURRENCE OF AFLATOXINS, ZEARALENONE AND TRICHOTHECENES IN MAIZE GROWN IN PAKISTAN

 

SALMA KHATOON1,2, NAFEESA QUDSIA HANIF2*, IFFAT TAHIRA2, NIGHAT SULTANA2, KISHWAR SULTANA3 AND NAJMA AYUB1

 

Abstract: A total of 65 maize grain samples , from 7 maize producing areas of Pakistan, were assayed for 14 toxicologically significant mycotoxins viz., aflatoxin B1 (AfB1), aflatoxin B2 (AfB2), aflatoxin G1 (AfG1), aflatoxin G2 (AfG2), zearalenone (ZON), deoxynivalenol (DON), 3acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3A-DON), 15acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15A-DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2 toxin (T-2), HT-2 toxin (HT-2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), neosolaniol (NEOS) and fusarenone-x (Fus-x). Quantification was made by using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). The frequently encountered mycotoxin was AfB1 – 27.69 % (n=18, range: 5-850 µg kg-1; mean: 192 µg kg-1).  Other mainly detected mycotoxins include AfB2 (18.46 %), NIV (12.31 %), DON (9.23 %), and 3ac-DON (7.69 %) with average values of 40, 1326, 1549, and 356 µg kg-1 respectively.  DAS, T-2 and HT-2 were detected in only 9.23 %, 6.15% and 6.15% of samples respectively with relatively low concentrations.  A co-occurrence phenomenon was observed in 12 (18.46 %) samples with a combination of two or maximum three different mycotoxins.  It is a first preliminary study report dealing with 14 important mycotoxins simultaneously in maize from main maize growing areas of Pakistan. 

 


1Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University - Islamabad

2Romer Labs, Pakistan – Rawalpindi

3Department of Plant Pathology, PMAS – Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi

*Corresponding author E-mail: qudsia09@yahoo.com


   
   

 

   
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