Detection of Aspergillus parasiticus on artificially infected peanut and corn kernels by using PCR method

Abstract

Contamination of food and feedstuffs by Aspergillus species and their toxic metabolites is a serious problem that effect on human and animal health. Hence, food contamination monitoring is an important activity, which gives information on the level and type of contamination. The detection of Aspegillus species by PCR method has been improved. In this research, applied PCR-based method would develop in detection of Aspergillus parasiticus on artificially infected peanut and corn kernels. These samples were inoculated with fungal strain of A.parasiticus and incubated for 2 days with peanut kernels, and 3 days with corn kernels at normal condition. After inoculating, an enough amount of DNA was obtained for PCR assay by both direct and indirect methods. As the result, two these methods were successful in A.parasiticus’ detection on infected food. The indirect method which spent time for fungal enrichment on malt extract agar was complex as compared with direct method. Therefore, the direct method was suggested as a suitable protocol for further detection of A.parasiticus on dried food, which avoided consumption of contaminated foods. Key words: Aspergillus parasiticus, Peanut, corn kernels, Indirect method , Direct method, PCR assay