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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #156398
Title: AFLATOXIN IN SOUTH TEXAS COTTONSEED: GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION AND INFLUENCING FACTORS

Author
item Jaime Garcia, Ramon
item Cotty, Peter

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2004
Publication Date: 3/15/2004
Citation: Jaime Garcia, R., Cotty, P.J. 2004. Aflatoxin in South Texas Cottonseed: Geographic Distribution and Influencing Factors. Proceedings of National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. p. 412-418.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Aflatoxins are toxic fungal metabolites produced by several members of Aspergillus section flavi. U.S. Federal regulations limit the use of aflatoxin-contaminated cottonseed. Cottonseed with aflatoxin content of 20 ng/g or higher may not enter the profitable dairy market. Between 4,472 and 9,949 truckloads of cottonseed from 31 to 35 gins in South Texas were analyzed for aflatoxin content each year from 1997 to 2001 upon receipt at the Valley Co-op Oil Mill in Harlingen, Texas. Highest levels of contamination occurred in 1999 with an average aflatoxin content of 112 and 66% of the cottonseed truckloads exceeding 20 ng/g. Years 1997 and 2000 had the lowest aflatoxin levels averaging 24 ng/g. The lowest incidence (16%) of the truckloads exceeding 20 ng/g occurred in 1997. In general, aflatoxin contamination increased as the ginning season progressed. Rainfall after boll opening correlated highly with aflatoxin content, with rainfall in July explaining over 50% of the observed variability in aflatoxin content. South Texas was divided into four regions: Rio Grande Valley, Coastal Bend, Upper Coast and Winter Garden. Geostatistical analyses revealed recurrent patterns of high and low contamination. Greatest contamination occurred from the central Coastal Bend region through the southern Upper Coast region. The Rio Grande Valley region experienced the least contamination during the study period.