A research on the relationship between aflatoxin and ochratoxin a formation and plant nutrients

A research was carried out in 1995 on dried fig samples taken from orchards representing the Ege Region. The samples were classified as fluorescent or non-fluorescent under UV lamp (365 nm). Individual fig fruits were subjected to aflatoxin, ochratoxin A and primary and secondary nutrient analyses. The Modified Official Swiss Method (Steiner et al., 1988) was used to extract aflatoxin and ochratoxin A in individual fig samples. Qualitative analysis and conformation were carried out using TLC. Quantitative analysis of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A was done using flourodensitometer (CAMAG TLC Scanner II). Macro and micro plant nutrient elements (N, P, K, Mg, Na, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn) were analyzed in dried samples remaining from the extraction and interaction of aflatoxin, ochratoxin A and plant nutrients were observed. Variance and regression-correlation analysis methods were used to evaluate the analyzed parameters. As a conclusion, a positive interaction statistically significant at 0,05 level between Ca and aflatoxin B-1 and a negative interaction statistically significant at 0,01 level between Cu and total aflatoxin, aflatoxin, B-1 and also a negative interaction statistically significant at 0,05 level between Cu and aflatoxins B-2 and G(1) were determined. There was no significant relationship between the other nutrients and aflatoxin forms (B-1, B-2, G(1), G(2)) and ochratoxin A. In addition, the samples showing fluorescence under UV lamp contained significantly higher levels of K, Na, Ca. However the samples which did not show fluorescence contained more Cu than the ether group.