Detection of toxigenic strains of Fusarium verticillioides in corn by electronic olfactory system

The maize cultivation is easily spoiled by fungi with potential contamination by mycotoxins. One of the most common toxins is fumonisin B1, mainly produced by Fusarium verticillioides and associated to the occurrence of human and animal diseases. The pattern of fungal volatile compounds (headspace) could be used as a marker of toxin production. In this work, we demonstrate the capability of the electronic nose to detect fungal contamination of maize and to classify E verticillioides strains in relation to their different behavior in fumonisins production. Electronic nose can represent a valid method of screening the maize bulk in order to prevent the entry of mycotoxins into the food chain. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.