Novel methods of Fusarium toxins’ production for toxicological experiments

Abstract

Studies were performed to develop a novel, efficient and cost-effective method for fumonisin and T-2 toxin production, respectively, in sufficient quantities for animal toxicological experiments. On the basis of three earlier published fumonisin toxin production methods a novel method was developed. Three, absolutely necessary factors were taken into account and tested in a serial experiment. The Fusarium verticillioides strain MRC 826 was directly inoculated onto soaked, autoclaved, whole maize kernels (50 g/1.7 l jar). The inoculation was performed by standard spore suspension (1·10⁶ /ml), a 5/2 surface/volume culture was prepared and incubated at 25 °C for 5 weeks. To maintain the optimal a_w of approximately 1.00, the evaporated water was re-filled weekly. A final concentration of 4454±1060.9 mg kg^-1 fumonisin B₁ was reached. T-2 toxin was produced experimentally on ground maize by Fusarium sporotrichioides strain NRRL 3299. With the method in this study similarly high T-2 toxin concentration can be reached as in case of fumonisin production. In the laboratory practice, applying the above settings, a high toxin production can be obtained.