Occurrence of ochratoxin in maize grains - a report

This paper deals with epidemiology of ochratoxins (A&B) contamination in tw o commonly cultivated maize varieties' viz. Zea mays var. Diara composite a nd Zea mays var. Suwan composite grown in the gangetic plains of Bihar. 25% samples of variety Diara composite and 36.3% of Suwan composite showed och ratoxin A contamination, which ranged from 0.06-0.74 mug/g and 0.09-0.87 mu g/g respectively. Ochratoxin B was also bound to be present in both the var ieties. In order to find the cause of ochratoxins contamination, Aspergillu s ochraceus strains isolated from the samples were also examined for ochrat oxins production potentialities. Its concentration in the contaminated samp les is found alarming and keeping this under consideration, a detailed inve stigation has been conducted in the present communication.