Fusaria and fumonisins in maize from Ghana and their co-occurrence with aflatoxins

Fifteen maize samples from four markets and processing sites in Accra, Ghan a were analysed for fumonisins B-1, B-2, and B-3. All samples contained fum onisins. Total fumonisin levels for 14 samples ranged from 70 to 4222 mug k g(-1). One sample of visibly mouldy kernels contained 52 670 mug kg(-1) tot al fumonisins. Mycological examination of the samples showed Aspergillus sp p. as the most dominant fungi (76.4%) followed by Penicillium spp. (19.9%). Fusarium formed 2.6% with Fusarium verticillioides as the predominant Fusa rium species. Thirty-two Fusarium strains representing five species isolate d from the maize samples were tested for the production of fumonisins in ma ize substrates. From 95% (21 of 22) of the F. verticillioides strains teste d, all three types of fumonisins were produced. Total fumonisin levels rang ed from 127 to 11 052 mug g(-1). Additional studies on maize samples from 1 5 processing sites in Accra revealed a co-occurrence of both fumonisins and aflatoxins in 53% (8 of 15) of the samples. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.