Conditions that affect growth of Aspergillus flavus and production of aflatoxin in stored maize
1987
Sauer, D.B. (Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (USA)) | Tuite, J. (Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (USA))
The aflatoxin-producing fungus, Aspergillus flavus, grows in maize in the field and also in stored grain after harvest. The most important factors affe2048cting fungal growth and toxin production are moisture content and temperature; drying and cooling of the grain are the principal means of control. Other factors that affect A. flavus are oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration, physical damage to the grain, initial levels of mold contamination, insect activity and genetic differences in the maize. Aspergillus flavus does not grow at relative humidities below 85 % or moisture contents below 16 %. As moisture increases even slightly above these levels, aflatoxin risk increases greatly. If moisture is adequate, aflatoxin can be produced at temperatures ranging from 11 dg. to 40 dg. C, although 25 dg. to 35 dg. C. is the optimal range. High-temperature drying increases susceptibility to fungal growth by increasing breakage susceptibility and lowering equilibrium moisture content. Aflatoxin risk increases with increasing levels of storage. In spite of what is known about fungal growth and toxin production, there is still no reliable means of predicting aflatoxin risk under various storage condit
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