Contamination of pine nuts by fumonisin produced by strains of Fusarium proliferatum isolated from Pinus pinea.
OBJECTIVE
To test the ability of Fusarium proliferatum strains isolated from Pinus pinea to synthesize fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) in pine nuts.


RESULTS
Eleven strains were inoculated in moist sterile shelled pine nuts and whole pine nuts, and incubated for 28 days. Moist sterile maize was inoculated in parallel as an optimum substrate for FB(1) production by Fusarium species.


CONCLUSIONS
Six of the strains produced FB(1) in shelled pine nuts, and two of them did so in whole pine nuts. IMPACT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: F. proliferatum is able to grow and produce FB(1) in the husk of pine nuts and the mycotoxin can be found in the nut once shelled. Consequently, FB(1) may be an important hazard in pine nuts.
Marín
S
S
Food Technology Dept., Lleida University, CeRTA-UTPV, Lleida, Spain. smarin@tecal.udl.es
Ramos
A J
AJ
Vázquez
C
C
Sanchis
V
V
D005506:Food Contamination; D037341:Fumonisins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009754:Nuts / Q000382:microbiology*; D028223:Pinus / Q000382:microbiology
D037341:Fumonisins; D009183:Mycotoxins