OCCURRENCE OF FUMONISINS AND AFLATOXINS IN CORN FROM THAILAND

Eighteen corn samples collected from Thailand were analysed for fumoni sins and aflatoxins by high performance liquid chromatography. Fumonis ins B-1 and B-2 were detected in 16 (89%) and 12 (67%) samples at leve ls ranging from 63 to 18800 ng/g (mean, 1790 ng/g) and from 50 to 1400 ng/g (mean, 251 ng/g), respectively. Fusarium moniliforme and F. prol iferatum isolated from Thai corn showed the production of fumonisins i n corn grit cultures. Aflatoxins B-1 and B-2 were found in 15 and 10 s amples at mean levels of 72 and 15 ng/g, respectively. It was noted th at as many as 72.2% (13/18) of samples were coincidentally contaminate d with fumonisins and aflatoxins. Based on these results, the interact ion of fumonisin-producers and aflatoxin-producers on kernel infection and contamination of these mycotoxins in corn is discussed. This is t he first report on the natural co-occurrence of fumonisins and aflatox ins in Thailand.