Effects of gamma radiation on maize samples contaminated with Fusarium verticillioides

Appl Radiat Isot. 2007 Aug;65(8):927-33. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2007.03.011. Epub 2007 Mar 28.

Abstract

The efficacy of gamma-irradiation as a method of decontamination of maize containing Fusarium verticillioides under controlled conditions of relative humidity (RH) (97.5%) and water activity has been studied. Maize grains inoculated with a spore suspension of F. verticillioides were irradiated to 2, 5, and 10 kGy. Thereafter, the irradiated and control samples were analyzed for the presence of fumonisins, their viable cells were counted, and their morphology was investigated by electronic microscopy. It was found possible to decrease the risk of exposure to fumonisins by irradiating maize to 5 or 10 kGy. However, at the dose of 2 kGy, the survived fungi (36%) can produce more fumonisins than the fungi in the control unirradiated samples under the same conditions.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Survival / radiation effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Food Contamination / prevention & control
  • Fusarium / cytology*
  • Fusarium / radiation effects*
  • Gamma Rays
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Seeds / cytology
  • Seeds / microbiology*
  • Seeds / radiation effects*
  • Sterilization / methods*
  • Zea mays / cytology
  • Zea mays / microbiology*
  • Zea mays / radiation effects*