Evaluation of Ochratoxin a Level in Oat Varieties Commonly Grown in South Dakota.

Evaluation of Ochratoxin A level in oat varieties commonly grown in South Dakota

B. Dhungana*, M. Caffe-Treml**, S. Ali, E. Byamukama, C. Tande, P. Krishnan, J. Kleinjan.

Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006

*Presenter: B. Dhungana

**Contact person: Melanie Caffe-Treml- email: Melanie.caffe@sdstate.edu

 

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a secondary fungal metabolite produced by several species of fungal genera Penicillium and Aspergillus, although P. verrucosum is the major OTA producer in the temperate region. Ochratoxin A may cause toxicogenic effect like hepatotoxicity, carcinogenesis, teratotoxicity, neurotoxicity in human and animal. Oat (Avena Sativa), like any other cereal grain, can be contaminated with ochratoxin A when the storage conditions are favorable for the fungal growth. Oat cultivars may vary in carrying the fungal mass and ultimately have an effect on the OTA production during storage. If the cultivar significantly influences grain OTA contamination, the use of resistant oat cultivars would be an effective way to limit the incidence of OTA contamination in oat products. Grain samples of 18 oat cultivars grown at 5 locations in South Dakota in 2014 are being analyzed for the presence of P. verrucosum and contamination with OTA by plating them on dichloran yeast sucrose agar (DYSG) medium and performing ELISA test, respectively. Also, to determine the effect of genotype on OTA production during storage, a subset of grain samples from the same 18 cultivars will be inoculated with P. verrucosum, incubated at constant water activity for four to six weeks, and OTA concentration of inoculated oat samples will be determined. Results will be discussed at the meeting.

Keywords: Oat, Ochratoxin A, genotype, environment, Penicillium verrucosum, ELISA, DYSG.