Mitigation of Aspergillus flavus and its aflatoxins in wheat grains by gamma irradiation and calcium oxide

Aspergillus flavus is one of the important species of molds that can produce toxins during improper storage of wheat grains. In this study, different amounts of calcium oxide (۰, ۰.۵, and ۱%) were mixed with wheat samples containing mold spores. After ۲۰ days, the samples were exposed to gamma radiation (۰, ۵, ۱۰, ۱۵, and ۲۰ KGy). The presence of A. flavus, Aflatoxin B۱ (AFB۱), aflatoxin B۲ (AFB۲), aflatoxin G۱ (AFG۱), and aflatoxin G۲ (AFG۲) was assessed in samples. The results indicated that the effects of calcium oxide, gamma irradiation, and their interactions were significant on A. flavus, AFB۱, and AFB۲ contamination. Furthermore, other toxins like AFG۱ and AFG۲ were not found in the samples. An additional reduction in AFB۱ and AFB۲ was observed when irradiation was accompanied by Cao, and the maximum inhibition of aflatoxin production was achieved at ۰.۵% CaO. Consequently, based on the standard maximum limit of ۱۰ KGy for cereals, the findings of this research suggest that ۰.۵% of calcium oxide and ۱۰ KGy of irradiation could be applied in the storage of wheat grains to mitigate A. flavus, AFB۱, and AFB۲.

Keywords:

Aspergillus flavus , aflatoxins , wheat grains , gamma radiation , calcium oxide