IARC MONOGRAPHS ON THE EVALUATION OF CARCINOGENIC ...

et al., 1994b), liver, kidney and muscle of beef cattle (Smith & Thakur, 1996) and milk
(Maragos & Richard, 1994; Scott et al., 1994; Prelusky et al., 1996a).
1.2 Formation
Fumonisin B 1 was isolated in 1988 by Gelderblom et al. (1988). It was chemically
characterized by Bezuidenhout et al. (1988), and shortly thereafter as ‘macrofusine’ by
Laurent et al. (1989a), from cultures of Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg
(formerly known as Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon) (Marasas et al., 1979) as well as
Gibberella fujikuroi (Leslie et al., 1996). The absolute stereochemical configuration of
fumonisin B 1 (see section 1.1.2) was determined by ApSimon (2001).
Fumonisin B 1 is produced by isolates of F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, F. anthophilum,
F. beomiforme, F. dlamini, F. globosum, F. napiforme, F. nygamai, F. oxysporum,
F. polyphialidicum, F. subglutinans and F. thapsinum (Gibberella thapsina) isolated from
Africa, the Americas, Oceania (Australia), Asia and Europe (Gelderblom et al., 1988;
Ross et al., 1990; Nelson et al., 1991; Thiel et al., 1991a; Chelkowski & Lew, 1992;
Leslie et al., 1992; Nelson et al., 1992; Miller et al., 1993; Rapior et al., 1993; Desjardins
et al., 1994; Visconti & Doko, 1994; Abbas & Ocamb, 1995; Abbas et al., 1995;
Logrieco et al., 1995; Miller et al., 1995; Leslie et al., 1996; Klittich et al., 1997; Musser
& Plattner, 1997; Sydenham et al., 1997). Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici has also
been shown to synthesize B fumonisins (Abbas & Riley, 1996). Fumonisins can be
produced by culturing strains of the Fusarium species that produce these toxins on sterilized
maize (Cawood et al., 1991) and yields of up to 17.9 g/kg (dry weight) have been
obtained with F. verticillioides strain MRC 826 (Alberts et al., 1990). Yields of
500–700 mg/L for fumonisin B 1 plus fumonisin B 2 have been obtained in liquid fermentations
and high recoveries of the toxins are possible (Miller et al., 1994). The predominant
toxin produced is fumonisin B 1. Fumonisin B 1 frequently occurs together with
fumonisin B 2, which may be present at levels of 15–35% of fumonisin B 1 (IARC, 1993;
Diaz & Boermans, 1994; Visconti & Doko, 1994).
F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum are among the most common fungi associated
with maize. These fungi can be recovered from most maize kernels including those that
appear healthy (Bacon & Williamson, 1992; Pitt et al., 1993; Sanchis et al., 1995). The
level of formation of fumonisins in maize in the field is positively correlated with the
occurrence of these two fungal species, which are predominant during the late maturity
stage (Chulze et al., 1996). These species can cause Fusarium kernel rot of maize, which
is one of the most important ear diseases in hot maize-growing areas (King & Scott,
1981; Ochor et al., 1987; De León & Pandey, 1989) and is associated with warm, dry
ears and/or insect damage (Shurtleff, 1980).
1.3 Use
FUMONISIN B 1
Fumonisin B 1 is not used commercially.
303