EFFECTS OF GAMMA-IRRADIATION ON MYCOTOXIN DISAPPEARANCE AND AMINO-ACID CONTENTS OF CORN, WHEAT, AND SOYBEANS WITH DIFFERENT MOISTURE CONTENTS

The effects of gamma irradiation on degradation of aflatoxin B-1 in wh eat, corn, and soybeans and of T-2 toxin in wheat, deoxynivalenol (DON ) in soybeans, and zearalenone in corn at 9, 13, and 17% moisture were studied. Radiation doses of 5, 7.5, 10 or 20 kGy were applied to spik ed grain samples, and the residual toxins were measured using an enzym e linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Irradiation doses of up to 20 kG y did not significantly affect aflatoxin B-1 in any of the three grain s, but significant reductions occurred in T-2 toxin, DON, and zearalen one concentration at doses of 10 or 20 kGy and in T-2 toxin at the 7.5 kGy dose. Two-way analysis of variance with Tukey's Multiple Range Te st showed no significant interaction between radiation dose and grain moisture level. Irradiation of the ground grains at doses higher than 5 kGy resulted in small, but significant, losses of lysine in corn (on ly at 7.5 kGy), wheat, and soybeans, and methionine was reduced in whe at and corn samples. In some cases, phenylalanine decreased in corn an d wheat, and histidine levels in wheat were reduced in samples receivi ng 7.5 kGy of irradiation. Other essential amino acids were not affect ed significantly by irradiation.