Molecular Characterization of Aflatoxigenic and Non-Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavusIsolated from Malaysian Sweet Corn | [Abstract Book on Global Science Technology and Management Conference • 2023]

Author(s):

1. Rahim Khan: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

2. Farinazleen Mohamad Ghazali: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

3. Nor Ainy Mahyudin: Department of Food Service and Management, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Laboratory of Halal Science Research, Halal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

4. Nik Iskandar Putra Samsudin: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Laboratory of Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

5. Farooq Anwar: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Institute of Chemistry, University of Sargodha, Pakistan, Sargodha, Pakistan

6. Nazamid Saari: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Abstract:

Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in sweet corn is becoming a significant concern due to tropical weather in these regions, which favors the development of aflatoxin-producing fungi. Therefore, the current study intended to molecularly identify and characterize the Aspergillus flavus isolated from sweet corn kernels in Malaysia. The specific primers FLA1 and FLA2 located on the ITS gene were employed to confirm the species and define the phylogenetic association amid isolates. In contrast, genes for aflatoxin biosynthesis, including aflD (nor-1), aflP (omtA), aflO (omtB), and aflR, were directed in a multiplex PCR to determine the toxigenicity potential. Forty isolates were confirmed as A. flavus. The Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree grouped all A. flavus strains (AF+ and AF-) in the same clade. The genes involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis were observed in all AF+ strains, whereas the AF- strains failed to amplify these genes. The study's findings exhibited the survival of both AF+ and AF- strains in sweet corn kernels, and hence suitable methods should be considered to reduce the prevalence of AF+ strains and the consequent production of aflatoxin in sweet corn of Cameron Highlands, Malaysia.

Page(s): 201-201

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: Abstract Book on Global Science Technology and Management Conference, Volume: 0, Issue: 0, Year: 2023

Keywords:

PCR , aflatoxins , Aspergillus flavus , phylogenetic tree , aflatoxin biosynthesis

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