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<p>1. Develop new techniques and improve current assays to identify and measure mycotoxins and mycotoxigenic fungi in cereal grains. </p>
<p>2. Establish integrated strategies to manage and to prevent mycotoxin contamination in cereal grains. </p>
<p>3. Define the regulation of mycotoxin biosynthesis and the molecular relationships between mycotoxigenic fungi.</p>
<p>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: <br/>Mycotoxins are usually produced on grains during periods of stress on the corn plant. This not only has negative implications for animals fed the grain, but can also carry over to the human population. Furthermore, mycotoxigenic fungi establish themselves on grains that have been compromised during the course of growth and harvest. This results in a lower yield and quality of the grains used for biofuel and green chemical production. This work will help to overcome some of the current limitations in trying to prevent mycotoxin formation in grains.
<p>APPROACH: <br/>The role of mycotoxins in human health has necessitated the development of rapid assay methodologies for grains. We plan to develop new methods to quantify mycotoxins and the associated fungi that take advantage of recent developments in nanotechology and genomics. By managing the environmental and processing conditions of grains, toxin production can be reduced. The impact of this reduction in toxin level on the quality of the grains used for processing to biofuels and green chemicals will be evaluated.
<p>PROGRESS: 2005/10 TO 2010/09 <p>OUTPUTS: <br/>Mycotoxins can play an important role in the quality of grain used for the production of biofuels. Grain quality can impact processing and conversion to biofuels and green chemicals. PARTICIPANTS: Thaddeus Ezeji - Ohio State University; Nasib Qureshi and Zonglin Liu - USDA Peoria Laboratory; and Jurgen Scheffran - Center for Advanced Bioenergy Research. TARGET AUDIENCES: Biofuel Producers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.