Abstract:
This study was carried out for twenty retail and bulk
maize samples parallel for each group, surface disinfected and non-disinfected
maize kernels, in Balikesir, Turkey. The aim of the study has provided
information to compare species diversity between non-disinfected and disinfected
maize mycoflora. Rhizopus (49%) and Aspergillus (19%) were
the most frequent genera isolated in non-disinfected maize kernels. Three
species of Rhizopus spp. were commonly isolated; R. oligosporus
Saito (19.0%), R. oryzae Went and Prinsen Geerlings (8.1%) and
R. stolonifer (Ehrenb.) Lind. (22.0%). Aspergillus was the
second most frequent genus isolated from non-disinfected maize kernels.
Predominant species isolated were Aspergillus tubingensis (Schöiber)
Mosseray (4.6%) and A. niger Van Tieghem (23%). In the disinfected
group, Aspergillus spp. (25%), Fusarium spp. (21%), Rhizopus
spp. (21%) and Penicillium spp. (13%) were commonly isolated. Aspergillus
tubingensis (5.0%), A. foetidus var. acidus Naka, Simo
and Wat (5.0%), Fusarium proliferatum (Matsushima) Nirenberg (17.1%),
Rhizopus oligosporus (57%) and Penicillium oxalicum Currie
and Thom (7.6%) were most frequently species isolated. Decrease of the
Rhizopus genus by chlorine disinfection caused significantly increase
of the Fusarium (21%), Trichoderma (8%) and Aspergillus
(25%) rates. Fusarium proliferatum was also found dominant and
potential mycotoxigenic “storage fungi”? in the samples of
corn maize.
Subscribe Today 
