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SCREENING OF MYCOTOXINS IN WHEAT, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES GROWN IN SINDH, PAKISTAN

NAJMUS SAHAR^*, MUBARIK AHMED, ZAHIDA PARVEEN, AMBER ILYAS AND ABBAS BHUTTO

Abstract: The main objective of the study was to determine the presence of different types of mycotoxins in different varieties of wheat, fruits and vegetables. The toxins included aflatoxin (total), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin and ochratoxin (total). Sixty grain samples of wheat were randomly collected from different farmers^’ fields, godowns and flour mills of Sindh, and 20 vegetables and fruits samples from open market and exporters. Wheat samples were analyzed quantitatively by Competitive Direct Enzyme Linked Immunoscorbent Assay (CD-ELISA) and vegetables and fruits were analyzed qualitatively by thin layer chromatography (TLC). The quantity of mycotoxins in most of the wheat, fruits and vegetables were not detected within the detectable limits, and a few were found contaminated with the deoxynivalenol (DON) as in wheat, and aflatoxin in fruits and vegetables. However the values were below the permissible safe limits for human consumption and health.

^*Grain Quality Testing Laboratory, Southern Zone Agricultural Research Centre,

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.