Occurrence of aflatoxin and aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species in corn harvested in Korea

Abstract

Sixty six corn samples freshly harvested in Korea were analyzed for the occurrence of aflatoxin and aflatoxigenic Aspergillus using chromatographic and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Aflatoxin and aflatoxigenic Aspergillus were detected in 13. 6% (0. 02 to 0. 48 μg kg-1) and 3. 0% of the corn samples, respectively. Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus isolates and A. flavus KCCM60330 showed high similarity (98-98. 8%). These results suggest that occurrence of aflatoxin and aflatoxigenic Aspergillus in corn harvested from Korea is low. © 2013 The Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistry.