Evaluation of the Optimal Multiplex PCR Method for the Detection of Aspergillus Flavus and Aspergillus Parasiticus on Dried Corn

Corns, which are one of major agricultural crop in Vietnam, have high risk of being infected with A. flavus and A. parasiticus due to the high humidity of tropical climate in Vietnam which is the ideal condition for fungal development. The traditional methods for detection and identification of these mycotoxigenic fungi are very time-consuming, laborious, and facility requiring. Thus, there is a need to develop a new PCR-based method that target DNA which is considered as a good alternative for rapid diagnosis of these fungi. In this study, a multiplex PCR method which had already been optimized in previous studied was evaluated by performing the detection of A. flavus and A. parasiticus on corn kernels collected from markets. These samples were detected by both culture method and multiplex PCR method. After first time of analysis, fungal enrichment overnight was applied to increase the detection percentage. The results were then analyzed and compared with that of traditional method. The statistical outcome showed that 66% results from PCR method was the same with culture method. However, after fungal enrichment by incubating samples in moist condition overnight, this proportion increased to 82% which was suggested to be statistically the same with culture method. Therefore, The PCR method with more advantages compared to culture method in time consuming, labor demand as well as the cost, it could be considered to be the replacement for the traditional method of rapid detection of A. flavus and A. parasiticus on dried corn.