Fungi and mycotoxins in Asian food and feed stuffs

• National Postharvest Institute for Research and Extension, Philippines
• SEAMEO Regional Centre for Tropical Biology, Indonesia
• Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Indonesia
• Gajah Mada University, Indonesia

Fungi and mycotoxins have caused serious problems in Asia in recent years due to their high toxicity and carcinogenicity in both food and animal feedstuffs. To date however, preventative measures such as grain-drying and pest control have commanded greater priority.

The present project will study the distribution, prevalence and importance of postharvest spoilage - primarily in cereals, but also in other durable food and feedstuffs in Asia. The scientists will seek to enumerate, isolate and identify to species level fungi growing in specific commodities of both high and low grade, to determine which mycotoxins each can produce and to assess each one's significance as a spoilage fungus or mycotoxin-producer, according to its relative prevalence in samples. Having thus identified specific mycotoxins, they will assay samples of each major commodity throughout its postharvest history to determine its mycotoxin status.

They will establish a computer database covering significant fungi, including the incidence of particular species, the mycotoxins produced and major factors influencing mycotoxin production by particular species. They will also develop computer-assisted keys to explore techniques for simplified identification of important toxin-producers and seek simple techniques for monitoring quality. Training programs for Asian microbiologists and chemists on the standard methods should ensure comparable assessments of mycological and mycotoxin quality throughout the region.

As its secondary aims, the project will assess, where appropriate, the impact of improved handling, drying and storage procedures on the incidence of both fungi and mycotoxins, and solutions to any identifiable problems. More fundamental studies will investigate the influence of temperature and water activity on growth or toxin production by significant fungi.

Activities in China will appraise the problem in the grain industries generally, but focus particular attention on maize in northeastern China.

In Indonesia, the project will concentrate initially on identifying fungi and mycotoxins involved in major problems with animals arising from feed ingredients, beginning with assembly and collation of currently available data.

In Thailand, similar collation of the extensive data available will precede further surveys to provide as complete a description as possible of the current situation. Particular attention will be given to rapid methods for identifying toxin-producing fungi.

Project 8612 has established linkages with appropriate institutions throughout Southeast Asia that will maximise the impact of the information that this work generates and facilitate its implementation.

The proposed research will identify the predominant spoilage and mycotoxigenic fungi in a range of important commodities in Asia. Improved understanding of factors affecting their toxin production, and of handling and drying procedures, will reduce the fungal load and mycotoxin production, thus reducing related animal losses and/or poor animal performance. Added to these economic benefits, lower mycotoxin levels in human food may result, with equal significance.