Occurrence and fumonisin B-2 producing potential of Aspergillus section Nigri in Brazil nuts

Author(s)

Ferranti, Larissa S. ; Correa, Benedito ; Fungaro, Maria Helena P. ; Iamanaka, Beatriz T. ; Massi, Fernanda P. ; Phippen, Christopher B. W. ; Frisvad, Jens C. ; Taniwaki, Marta H.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MYCOTOXIN RESEARCH; v. 33, n. 1, p. 49-58, FEB 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Bertholletia excelsa is the tree that produces Brazil nuts which have vast economic importance in the Amazon region and as an export commodity. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of Aspergillus section Nigri in Brazil nut samples at different stages of its production chain and to verify the toxigenic potential for fumonisin B-2 (FB2) production of these isolates along with the presence of this mycotoxin in Brazil nut samples. The fungal infection ranged from 0 to 80% at the different stages of the harvest and processing chain and the water activity of the nuts from 0.273 to 0.994. A total of 1052 A. section Nigri strains were isolated from Brazil nuts and 200 strains were tested for their ability to produce FB2: 41 strains (20.5%) were FB2 producers with concentrations ranging from 0.09 to 37.25 mg/kg; 2 strains (1%) showed traces of FB2, less than the detection limit (0.08 mg/kg); and 157 (78.5%) were not FB2 producers. Although several samples showed high contamination by A. section Nigri, no sample was contaminated by FB2. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/07693-6 - Incidence of Aspergillus section Nigri producing fumonisin and ochratoxin A in foods and its significance on consumer health
• Grantee: Marta Hiromi Taniwaki
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants