Fungal and mycotoxin contamination of maize hybrids in different maturity groups

Abstract

In the present study, the frequency of toxigenic fungi and occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and total fumonisins (FBs) in the kernels of six maize hybrids from different FAO maturity groups (ZP 341, ZP 427, ZP 434, ZP 560, ZP 606, ZP 666) in three localities (Belosavci, Ladjevci and Divci) in Serbia, during the harvest in 2013, was investigated. Using standard mycological tests of maize kernels, the presence of potentially toxigenic fungi species from the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium was found. In the studied localities, species Fusarium verticillioides was the most frequently isolated from the most hybrids, with a maximum frequency of 30%, while the presence of Aspergillus spp. ranged from 0 to 16%, and Penicillium spp. from 0 to 20%. By applying Immunoadsorbent enzymatic assay (ELISA) the concentrations of AFB1, DON and FBs were determined in maize. The differences between tested hybrids in the level of mycotoxins in kernels were statistically significant (P?0.01) for DON and FBs, but not for the content of AFB1. Also, the interaction between the hybrid and location was significant (P?0.01) for the level of DON and FBs, while there was no statistical significance for the level of AFB1. Maximum values of AFB1, DON and FBs level were 1.02 ?g kg-1 (ZP 427), 12 ?g kg-1 (ZP 341) and 1528.56 ?g kg-1 (ZP 427). The concentrations of the tested mycotoxins in kernels did not exceed the maximum allowed limits stipulated by Serbian regulations (Sluzbeni glasnik RS, 2014). Given that agro-ecological conditions in Serbia are favourable for the occurrence of toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxins, it is necessary to exert the control of maize kernels annually, in harvest and postharvest periods. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 31023 i br. TR 31053]

Ergosterol and Fusarium mycotoxins content in two maize cultivars under different forms of nitrogen fertilizers

“…The summary of analysis of annual and multi‐years results of occurrence, the presence and frequency of potentially toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxins in feeds is important primarily because of the implementation of preventive measures, as well as increasing the awareness of the consequences of the harmful effects of these contaminants in the food chain. To prevent the biosynthesis of mycotoxins, it is necessary to take measures that inhibit the development of fungi in the field (Krnjaja et al, ). The most important preventive measure is the cultivation of resistant cultivars and/or different forms of nitrogen fertilizers; therefore, continuous research of the sensitivity of domestic hybrids to toxigenic fungal species is required.…”

Natural toxigenic fungal and mycotoxin occurrence in maize hybrids

“…Leggieri et al (2015) found that there were no significant differences in the aflatoxins level between maize hybrids from different FAO maturity groups in two-year trials (2009)(2010)(2011). Also, in Serbia, in 2013, Krnjaja et al (2016 have demonstrated that there were no significant effects of hybrids and the interaction effect of hybrids and location on the level of AFB 1 in the maize hybrids from FAO 300, 400, 500, and 600 maturity groups. Means followed by the same letter within a column are not significantly different according to Tukey's multiple comparison test (P ≤ 0.05); ** -significant at the 0.01 level of probability, *significant at the 0.05 level of probability, nsnot statistically significant…”