Effects of gamma radiation on maize samples contaminated with Fusarium verticillioides.
The efficacy of gamma-irradiation as a method of decontamination of maize containing Fusarium verticillioides under controlled conditions of relative humidity (RH) (97.5%) and water activity has been studied. Maize grains inoculated with a spore suspension of F. verticillioides were irradiated to 2, 5, and 10 kGy. Thereafter, the irradiated and control samples were analyzed for the presence of fumonisins, their viable cells were counted, and their morphology was investigated by electronic microscopy. It was found possible to decrease the risk of exposure to fumonisins by irradiating maize to 5 or 10 kGy. However, at the dose of 2 kGy, the survived fungi (36%) can produce more fumonisins than the fungi in the control unirradiated samples under the same conditions.
Ferreira-Castro
F L
FL
Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 1374, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil. fabilucy@usp.br
Aquino
S
S
Greiner
R
R
Ribeiro
D H B
DH
Reis
T A
TA
Corrêa
B
B
D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005670:Fusarium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012639:Seeds / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*