Corn Growers Request an Increase in Aflatoxin Research Funding

Published: December 13, 2007

Source : National Corn Growers Association

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) officials and others met with representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) yesterday in Washington, D.C., to seek an increase in funding and research to eliminate aflatoxin.

NCGA Mycotoxin Committee Chairman Scott Averhoff and Texas Corn Producers Board Executive Director David Gibson were joined by representatives from the National Cotton Council of America, National Peanut Board, and Almond Board of California to discuss the future of Multi-crop Pre-harvest Elimination Research and to provide ARS with industry perspective on research priorities.

“Aflatoxin research and funding is a top priority for NCGA,” said Averhoff. “Over the past few years, we have seen real benefits in aflatoxin elimination research. Our goal is to work with ARS to continue this vital research and find viable solutions to eliminate aflatoxin.”

Aflatoxin is produced by the Aspergillus family of molds and is most prevalent in corn, cotton, peanuts and tree nuts. It can be caused by several vectors, but is most commonly related to drought-stressed corn followed by periods of high humidity. While aflatoxin is most common in the South, northern corn growers also experience aflatoxin infestations.

The pre-harvest elimination research led to the development of competitive atoxigenic fungus strains that crowd out the toxin-producing fungus in field environments. This has led to commercialized products in cotton and peanuts and is being studied in corn, almonds and other tree nuts. Additionally, collaborative ARS and nationwide university research through this program is breeding research designed to move naturally resistant germplasm into commercially acceptable corn hybrids.

NCGA will continue to work with ARS and other commodity groups within the coming months to resolve the present budget issues.

Source

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Mohamed Deabes

13 de diciembre de 2007

Genotoxins, Mutagens, Antimutagens, Biodosimetry, Risk Assessment P106 Natural Co-Occurrence of Aflatoxin and Cyclopiazonic Acid, and Their Fungi Production of Corn Grown in Egypt Deabes,M, Amra H, Damaty E, Rowayshed G P109 Saccharomyces cervisiae and Probiotec Bacteria Potentially Inhibit Aflatoxins Production In Vitro and In Vivo Studies. I. With Special Reference to Their Antioxidant Activity in Albino Rat Amra H, Rowayshed G, Damaty,E, Nada S, Deabes,M POSTER presentation during the EMS 38th Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Number for this session is P109. You are required to attend your poster during Poster Session 1 at 4:45 PM - 7:00 PM on Sunday, October 21, 2007. October 20-24 2007. The theme of the EMS 38th Annual Meeting is Mutational and Epigenetic Mechanisms of Susceptibility and Risks for Genetic Diseases. Environmental Mutagen Society (EMS).