The effect of enhanced carotenoid content of transgenic maize grain on fungal colonization and mycotoxin content

Novel strategies that address vitamin A deficiency have been developed, such as high-carotenoid maize, a biofortified transgenic maize line rich in carotenoids generated by genetic transformation. The South African white maize inbred (M37W), which is devoid of carotenoids, was engineered to accumula...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mycotoxin research 2016-11, Vol.32 (4), p.221-228
Main Authors: Díaz-Gómez, J., Marín, S., Nogareda, C., Sanchis, V., Ramos, A. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aflatoxins
Aspergillus
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Carotenoids
Carotenoids - metabolism
Chemistry/Food Science
Corn
Fungi
Fungi - classification
Fungi - isolation & purification
Fusarium verticillioides
Grain
Harvesting
Life Sciences
Livestock
Medical Microbiology
Medicine/Public Health
Microbiology
Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins - analysis
Original Article
Plants, Genetically Modified - chemistry
Plants, Genetically Modified - microbiology
Seeds
Spain
Toxins
Transgenic plants
Zea mays
Zea mays - chemistry
Zea mays - microbiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Novel strategies that address vitamin A deficiency have been developed, such as high-carotenoid maize, a biofortified transgenic maize line rich in carotenoids generated by genetic transformation. The South African white maize inbred (M37W), which is devoid of carotenoids, was engineered to accumulate high levels of β-carotene (provitamin A), lutein, and zeaxanthin. Maize seeds contaminated with fumonisins and other mycotoxins pose a serious threat to both humans and livestock. During three consecutive harvests, the fungal incidence and the fumonisin and aflatoxin content of maize seeds grown in an experimental field in Catalonia (Northeastern Spain) were evaluated. Fungal infection was similar in high-carotenoid maize and its isogenic line, with Fusarium verticillioides being the most prevalent fungus in all the harvests. Neither Aspergillus spp. nor aflatoxin contamination was found. Fumonisin levels were lower in high carotenoid than in its isogenic line, but this reduction was statistically significant in only 2 of the 3 years of study. Our results suggest that high carotenoid content reduces fumonisin levels in maize grains.
ISSN:0178-7888
1867-1632
DOI:10.1007/s12550-016-0254-x