Detection of mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi in cereal grains using vibrational spectroscopic techniques: A review

Authors: JIA, B - China Agriculture University; WANG, W - China Agriculture University; Ni, Xinzhi; CHU, X - Zhongkai University; Yoon, Seung-Chul; Lawrence, Kurt

Submitted to: World Mycotoxin Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2019
Publication Date: 1/23/2020
Citation: Jia, B., Wang, W., Ni, X., Chu, X., Yoon, S.C., Lawrence, K.C. 2020. Detection of mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi in cereal grains using vibrational spectroscopic techniques: A review. World Mycotoxin Journal. 13(2):163-178. https://doi.org/10.3920/WMJ2019.2510.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3920/WMJ2019.2510

Interpretive Summary: Contaminations of mycotoxins in cereals and oil crops are secondary metabolites produced by fungi mainly belonging to species of the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium, and pose serious threats to the health of human and livestock. Several reliable, specific and sensitive analytical methods have been developed to detect fungal infection and/or mycotoxin contamination in human food and animal feed. However, these traditional methods are time consuming and labor intensive, and require skilled personnel to perform these tasks. These methods also need tedious sample preparation before carrying out, making them unsuitable for large-scale nondestructive detection or rapid online sorting applications. To meet the needs of detecting fungal infection, mycotoxins contamination and/or concentrations in cereals and oil seeds, rapid and nondestructive technologies have received extensive attention. This review focuses on recent advancement of research utilizing infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging to detect fungal infections and mycotoxin contaminants in cereals and oil seeds worldwide, with an emphasis on recent progresses in China. Brief introductions of principles, and corresponded shortcomings, as well as the latest advances of each technique, are also discussed.

Technical Abstract: Nutrition-rich cereal grains and oil seeds are the major sources of food and feed for human and livestock, respectively. Infected by fungi and contaminated with mycotoxins are serious problems worldwide for cereals and oil seeds before and after harvest. The growth and development activities of fungi not only consume seed nutrients and destroy seed structures, leading to dramatic declines of crop yield and quality. In addition, the toxic secondary metabolites produced by the fungi is a well-known threat to both human and animals. The existence of fungi and mycotoxins has been a redoubtable problem worldwide for decades, which is a severe food safety issue in developing countries and regions, such as China and Africa. Detection of fungal infection at an early stage and of mycotoxin contaminant even in a small amount is of great significance to prevent harmful and toxins from entering the food supply chains worldwide. This review focuses on recent advancement of research utilizing infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging to detect fungal infections and mycotoxin contaminants in cereals and oil seeds worldwide, with an emphasis on recent progresses in China. Brief introductions of principles, and corresponded shortcomings, as well as latest advances of each technique, are also being presented herein.