AFLATOXINS CONTAMINATION OF CORN HYBRIDS IN THREE REGIONS OF THE GOIÁS STATE, BRAZIL

The natural occurrence of aflatoxins B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1(AFG1), and G2 (AFG2) in corn grains was evaluated in three locations of Goiás State (Jataí, Montividiu and Goiânia), from twelve grain samples of hybrids (DAS766, DAS657, 30K75, 30F44, 30P70, 30F33, AG7000, DKB350, AG1051, Strike, Speed and Fort). The aflatoxins were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results were related to the temperature and rainfall data from each region, and to the presence of fungi and rotten ears in the samples. The lowest percentage of rotten ears occurred in Goiânia, with a significant difference among the hybrids. The pathological analysis of the seeds was determined by the "Blotter" test. The Aspergillus spp. was present in all the samples from Jataí, in 41.7% of the samples from Goiânia, and a single sample from Montividiu. The aflatoxin contamination was higher in the samples from Jataí, followed by Goiânia and Montividiu, respectively. In Jataí, that result was correlated with higher rainfall levels during harvest. The levels of AFB1 ranged between "not detected" (nd) and 277.8 µg.kg-1; 0.7 µg.kg-1, and 14 µg.kg-1, for AFB2; and between nd and 34.1 µg.kg-1, for AFG2. The AFG1 was not detected in any of the samples. KEY-WORDS: Rotten ear; Aspergillus spp.; aflatoxin; maize; HPLC.