DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF MYCOTOXIGENIC FUNGI IN MAIZE BY REAL-TIME PCR

Abstract

The article focuses on real-time PCR detection and quantification of Fusarium spp., potential producer of class B fumonisin mycotoxins in mature corn kernels using primers designed to genes FUM1 and FUM6, involved in mycotoxin biosynthesis. Research have shown that the real-time PCR assay can be used for detecting and quantifying potentially mycotoxigenic Fusarium in the maize kernels by the genes involved in mycotoxin synthesis. Three pairs of primers specific to genes involved in the synthesis of mycotoxin FB known to contaminate maize and maize products were developed and a pair of primers specific to a conserved Fusarium beta-tubulin gene, aimed at detection of most Fusarium species. There has been applied quantitative PCR assay for quantification of total Fusarium spp. and potentially mycotoxigenic Fusarium verticillioides.