Distribution and Measurement of Aflatoxin in 1983 Iowa Corn

Thumbnail Image
Date
1989
Authors
Schmitt, Steven
Hurburgh, Charles
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Authors
Person
Hurburgh, Charles
Professor
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Abstract

Six corn samples from each of Iowa's 99 counties were collected in December, 1983, to determine the degree of aflatoxin contamination in 1983 Iowa corn. While the statewide average was 18.8 parts per billion (ppb), 23% of the counties had no detectable aflatoxin and 11% were over 100 ppb. Aflatoxin concentrations were highest in the southeast and southcentral regions, coinciding with the extreme drought conditions suffered there during August. The coefficient of variation among samples within counties averaging over 20 ppb was 105%. The data support other reports that high temperatures and drought stress in the three to four weeks following silking promote aflatoxin contamination. The accuracy of a whole- kernel black-light test as a presumptive test for aflatoxin concentration in excess of 20 ppb was examined for two sample sizes (10.9 and 1.8 kg). The black light identified all 10.9-kg samples that contained aflatoxin contamination above 20 ppb. For the 1.8-kg samples, 11% of samples with aflatoxin levels above 20 ppb were missed. Of the large samples with bright greenish-yellow fluorescent particles, 55% contained less than 20 ppb compared with 33% of the small samples.

Comments

This article is from Cereal Chemistry 66 (1989): 165–168.

Description
Keywords
Citation
DOI
Source
Copyright
Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 1989
Collections