Dr. Ting Zhou has found bacteria in soil that could detoxify the DON that has poisoned a lot of Ontario corn.
Zhou found the bacteria in an alfalfa field and discovered that produces two enzymes that can neutralize DON.
He said it might work to detoxify contaminated corn after harvest, but he also speculates that it could be used as a seed treatment or a soil amendment to counter DON before it can infect corn.
Zhou is now looking to the corn industry and/or companies that could partner with him to commercialize the discovery.
He works for the federal agriculture department in Guelph.
Compared with previous discoveries of bacteria that can detoxify DON contaminated grain, the new bacterium is better because it doesn’t necessarily need DON as a food source to grow, it can grow at lower temperatures, and can grow in the presence of oxygen, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canadfa said in a news release.
‘This makes it well suited to industrial applications as there is potential to add the bacteria, or just the two purified enzymes, to harvested grain in storage to reduce contamination to levels acceptable for animal feed.’ said AAFC.
