Vol. 10, Issue 3 (2021)

Author(s):
RP Senthilkumar, A Natarajan and R Kavitha

Abstract:
A study was undertaken to assess the mycotoxins occurrences in pearl millet (Bajra). A total of 121 samples of pearl millet samples received from all over the country were subjected to semi quantitative multimycotoxin method for the determination of aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1 and G2), ochratoxin A, citrinin and T2-toxin. Out of the samples tested, about 52.07% samples were found to be contaminated with any one of the mycotoxins tested. Of the mycotoxin tested, aflatoxin B1 is the predominate one with 45.45% occurrence followed by aflatoxin B2 (28.93%). Ochratoxin A (OTA) and Citrinin were detected in 8.16% and 7.14% samples. Further, 7.14% of the samples found to have co-occurrence of more than one mycotoxins viz., aflatoxin, ochratoxin A and Citrinin. Maximum concentration of AflatoxinB1, B2, ochratoxin A and citrinin are detected at 150, 40, 405 and 2070 µg/kg respectively. The study concludes that co-occurrence of mycotoxins in pearl millet.