Survey of Storage Wheat Contamination to Zearalenone Producer Fusarium Sp. in East Azarbaidgjan

Background and Objectives: Contamination of storage wheat to zearalenone producer molds represents a significant hazard to consumer health and has thus received increasing attention from food safety authorities and legislators. Various species of Fusarium genus are producer of different mycotoxins including zearalenone at certain conditions. These mycotoxins can enter into the human food and animal feed chain and cause premature or early thelarche, gynecomastia, primary and secondary mycotoxicosis in humans and animals. Materials and Methods: In this survey, contamination of ۱۶۲ randomly collected wheat samples to zearalenone producer Fusarium was investigated using direct microscopic examination and culturing samples in specific media. Results: From studied ۱۶۲ collected wheat samples, ۱۶۰ (۹۹%) samples had fungal contamination. Aspergillus niger, Penicillium Sp, other species of Asergillus (A. fumigatus, A. flavous, A. niveus, A. cchraceus,…) Fusarium Sp, Alternaria Sp, Cladesporium Sp, Gliocladium Sp. and Trichotecium Sp. were the most frequently detected microorganisms respectively. Conclusion: The presence of moulds such as Aspergillus Sp, Penicillium Sp, Fusarium Sp, Alternaria Sp, Cladesporium Sp, Gliocladium Sp, and Trichotecium Sp. in consumer wheat samples can lead to the presence of harmful mycotoxins and then could result in serious toxicity and illness in humans. As the fungal contamination has a strong influence on the ultimate quality of wheat, wheat end products and food safety, more attention to the quality and safety of wheat and wheat stored places are necessary. Key words: Wheat, Fungal contamination, Mycotoxins, Zearalenone, East Azarbaidjan

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Key words: Wheat , Fungal contamination , Mycotoxins , Zearalenone , East Azarbaidjan