Fungi associated to beans infested with coffee berry borer and the risk of ochratoxin A

• Published in: Food control Vol. 113; p. 107204
• Main Authors: Alves da Silva, Sabrina, Fonseca Alvarenga Pereira, Rosemary Gualberto, de Azevedo Lira, Nathasha, Micotti da Glória, Eduardo, Chalfoun, Sara Maria, Batista, Luís Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2020
• Subjects: Agricultural pest; Coffee; Demaged beans; Fungal contamination; OTA; Toxigenic potential; Demaged beans; Coffee; OTA; Agricultural pest; Toxigenic potential; Fungal contamination
• ISSN: 0956-7135; 1873-7129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107204

Coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) is the main pest of coffee crop. Its damage starts when insect pierces coffee berries. Perforations may compromise microbiological quality and consumption safety of beans. This study aimed to identify toxigenic fungi associated to damaged coffee beans and quantify ochratoxin A content. Coffee beans from two Brazilian producing areas were collected and the damaged beans in the sample were classified by the level of infestation. There is a relationship between coffee berry borer infestation and the increase in fungal contamination percentage. Twenty fungal species were identified, where those from the Fusarium and Aspergillus genera were more incident. Among the twenty isolated species four were potential OTA producers. OTA presence was detected only in samples from the “Cerrado” producing region, where high mycotoxin concentrations were found in “Dirty I and II” levels.
•Coffee berry borer-infested beans are associated with a variety of fungi.•Ochratoxin A is present in beans with low levels of pest infestation.•Coffee berry borer can compromise the safe consumption of coffee beans.