Important Achievement

PI: Dr Farhat jabeen Co-PI: Dr Muhammad Kashif Saleemi Amount : 4.23 Million Duration: 36 Months Summary : Around the globe, in under developed and developed countries, surveys carried out to evaluate fungal infection and aflatoxins (AFs) contamination, the alarming situations have been accounted. The incidence of AFs in food or feed relies upon postharvest management strategies for the storage and food processing prior consumption. Environmental factors like humidity, aeration, temperature and duration of day light are the driving factors which control AFs contamination. Infection of a single grain by mold results in contamination of the entire lot. AFs are mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic to human health, if consumed for a longer period of time through food beyond the permissible limits set by IAEA, WHO and FDA. The mycotoxins contamination in general and AFs infection in particular due to inhibiting or invading mycoflora is a dilemma of national as well as international distress. In flourishing Research and Development sector of Pakistan, enormous number of studies has been carried out on rice, corn, chilies, spices, nuts, milk, egg and many others to survey the incidence of AFs and responsible mycoflora, a little effort has also been done on lab scale towards control of AFs following biological control; to eradicate species of Aspergillus from the inoculated food or fed stuff, by implementing some antagonistic fungal species. It is an innate phenomenon that the problems that arise naturally are tackled by the nature itself to an absolute degree. AFs are notorious mycotoxins begotten by uncontrolled natural circumstances, so simple exposure of the contaminated commodities to sunlight can efficiently and appreciably remove AFs. Irradiation is actually exposure of the food or feed to a specified wavelength from the entire spectrum of light, the beauty of the treatment lies in the fact that it is a cold pasteurization technique, does not allow an increase in the temperature of the food so internationally recommended safe regarding wholesomeness of irradiated food. Moreover it does not leave any toxic residues on irradiated food.The proposal put forth here stands on the pillars of findings of my PhD studies. Physical and chemical methods were used during my PhD study to detoxify AFs and responsible mycoflora in ground and tree nuts. I want to continue efforts in this domain using the more effective and safe physical treatment by using Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of a specific wavelength. Furthermore the commodity under consideration is corn.