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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #156397
Title: ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH COMMERCIAL COTTONSEED IN SOUTH TEXAS

Author
item Jaime Garcia, Ramon
item Cotty, Peter

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2004
Publication Date: 3/15/2004
Citation: Jaime Garcia, R., Cotty, P.J. 2004. Aspergillus flavus communities associated with commercial cottonseed in South Texas. Proceedings of National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. p. 419-420.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Aspergillus flavus is the main causal agent of aflatoxin contamination of cottonseed. A. flavus can be divided into two strains, S and L, based on physiological, morphological, and genetic criteria. Strain S isolates produce greater quantities of aflatoxins than L strain isolates in cottonseed. Aflatoxin contamination of cottonseed can be severe in South Texas. The structure of A. flavus communities associated with South Texas cottonseed was determined by analyzing 186 truckloads of commercial cottonseed sampled at the Valley Co-op Oil Mill in Harlingen, Texas from 1999 through 2001. The quantity of A. flavus (CFU) and the percent of A. flavus composed of the S strain were both correlated with aflatoxin contamination of South Texas cottonseed. CFU differed between both regions and seasons, while percent S only differed between regions. The Rio Grande Valley had significantly lower CFU and S strain than the Coastal Bend and Upper Coast regions. Cottonseed produced in 1999 had significantly more A. flavus than that produced in either 2000 or 2001. Results suggest that the S strain may be an important causal agent of aflatoxin contamination in South Texas.