Method is capable of detecting mycotoxin directly in corn grains

Scientists from Embrapa and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) have developed an innovative method to detect the presence of fumonisin in corn grains without the need for milling or chemical reagents, which reduces costs and makes the process more environmentally sound. The technique uses near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI), integrating principles of chemistry and precision agriculture, to identify and quantify this mycotoxin, considered one of the biggest obstacles to corn production in Brazil because it contaminates the grains while still in the field and is not destroyed by thermal processing.

Fumonisins are produced mainly by fungi of the genus Fusarium and, because they are widely distributed, frequently occurring and highly toxic, they are considered the worst among the mycotoxins produced by these microorganisms.

Associated with the mathematical model of multivariate image analysis, NIR-HSI allows the identification and quantification of fumonisins directly in corn grains, which are invisible to the naked eye, quickly and without destroying the samples.

“NIR-HSI technology works based on the principle of diffuse reflectance, which depends on the chemical and structural properties of the material. It is a non-destructive approach to obtain spatially distributed spectra, which allows the visualization and location of chemical changes in any complex system pixel by pixel,” explains Maria Lúcia Simeone, a researcher at Embrapa Milho e Sorgo (MG).

Innovation in mycotoxin detection

The method currently used to quantify fumonisins is expensive, complex, time-consuming, and requires grinding the sample and a high level of technical knowledge. Added to these disadvantages is the fact that the chemical reagents used to perform the analysis are toxic, which results in harm to the health of the analyst and the environment.

According to Simeone, the new method is much faster, does not use chemicals, does not destroy the sample and is less expensive. “It works through an algorithm built from spectral and spatial information obtained from NIR-HSI equipment using different corn samples, since the data depends on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and atoms or molecules in the sample being analyzed,” he adds.

The researcher also highlights that the results obtained with the NIR-HSI technique were surprising, especially because they made it possible to identify contaminated batches and prevent cross-infection during corn storage. “This methodology has the potential to transform the way we quantify and control fumonisin, ensuring food quality and safety,” she adds.

Benefits for the production chain

The new technique brings several benefits to the entire corn production chain:

Faster: The quantification of fumonisin content is carried out quickly, in just 30 seconds, allowing a greater number of samples to be analyzed in less time with a faster response in the event of contamination.

Cost reduction: The technique is more economical than traditional methods, as it does not require grinding or the use of chemical reagents.

Non-destructive: the analysis does not damage the sample, allowing the analysis to be carried out directly on the grains and their subsequent use.

A safer future for corn consumption

The research, published in the journal Brazilian Journal of Biology, represents a significant advance in the area of ​​food safety. “By enabling the rapid and direct detection of fumonisin levels in corn grains, this new methodology contributes to ensuring food quality and safety, protecting the health of consumers and animals,” notes Renata Pereira da Conceição, a postgraduate student at UFMG.

For Valéria Aparecida Vieira Queiroz, a researcher at Embrapa, “with this technology, it is possible to develop more efficient strategies for controlling fumonisins in corn, reducing production losses, enabling the segregation of sample batches and ensuring safer food for the population”.

Embrapa Cotton (PB) researcher Everaldo Medeiros explains that the technique generates a type of “chemical image of the object,” combining chemometric data processing techniques. This makes it possible to explore innovative applications for agriculture, based on concepts of green chemistry and precision agriculture, which place Embrapa and its partners at the forefront of innovation in applications with NIR-HSI images.

“Our participation in the work was to study the best image configurations for measuring fumonisins directly in corn seeds. The results allowed us to automatically detect and quantify mycotoxins with greater sensitivity and speed than the techniques currently used,” concludes Medeiros.