Fungal species decaying corn cobs in Çukurova, their main toxins and determination of preventative cultural processes

This study was carried out between 2010-2011 in the corn fields of Adana to determine the dominance of fungal agents causing decays in corns. In the study, fungal infections and mycotoxins were investigated for in the corn samples taken during harvest period in first and second crops. As a result of mycological isolations, Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium, which are known to produce mycotoxins, were isolated . The isolated fungi were defined in terms of their cultural, morphological and physiological characteristics. As a result of the identification, the species were found to be Fusarium oxysporum, F. semitectum, F. sambicinum, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. terreus, Penicillium verrucosum and P. carneum. Direct Competitive ELISA (CD-ELISA) analysis was performed for Mycotoxin dedection. According to the result , 3.4-76.0 ppb T-2 toxin was found in 31 corn seeds, 10.9 – 544.8 ppb Zearalenone was seen in 43 corn seeds, and 0.3-62.6 ppb aflatoxin was observed in 4 corn seeds, and finally in 15 corn seed samples, 0.3-5.9 ppb ochratoxin was found. As a result of CD- ELISA analysis, Immuno Affinity Column -High Performance Liquid Chromatography (IAC -HPLC) analysis were performed for the corn seed samples found to be contaminated with 62.6 ppb aflatoxin and 5.9 ppb of ochratoxin. IAC –HPLC showed similar results to those of CD- ELISA test as 82.5 ppb for aflatoxin and 7.8 ppb for ochratoxin.