Mycotoxin contamination of maize (Zea mays L.) samples in Hungary, 2012–2017

Abstract

Mycotoxin contamination of maize often raises risks for human and animal health. The most frequently detected mycotoxins in maize are trichothecenes, fumonisins, and aflatoxin. A total number of 17,011 maize samples were tested by SGS for their mycotoxin content between 2012 and 2017. The toxin results clearly show that the southern areas of the country had higher levels of toxin contamination than the average. According to the dataset, aflatoxin contamination has become regular but the appearance of fumonisins was also more frequent. Deoxynivalenol toxin accumulation in crops can also reach dangerous levels under favorable ecological conditions. The fluctuation between years and regisons is decisively shaped by the weather conditions. However, the two pathogens with less virulence (Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus) must be taken into account and the contribution of insect pests. 72.63% of the total fumonisin concentration was defined as fumonisin B1, 20.34% as fumonisin B2, and 7.03% as fumonisin B3. The correlations between the three fumonisins analogs were higly significant (P = 0.001), and correlation coefficient varied between 0.961 and 0.998 across the six years of evaluation. This is the first complex evaluation of deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, and aflatoxin contamination of maize samples in Hungary.

Updating the Methodology of Identifying Maize Hybrids Resistant to Ear Rot Pathogens and Their Toxins—Artificial Inoculation Tests for Kernel Resistance to Fusarium graminearum, F. verticillioides, and Aspergillus flavus

“…When preharvest AFB1 is above 20 μg/kg, preventive methods with a higher resistance, supported by agronomy and other means, are crucial [ 13 , 14 ]. Toxin data from SGS Company [ 15 ] showed that DON, fumonisins, and AFB1 have been regular components of corn grains every year since 2012, with large local differences. As the data (except the low rates) originated from mixtures from different fields and hybrids [ 16 ], the data could not be connected to individual hybrids.…”

“…Magan et al [ 24 ] analyzed DON for wheat, fumonisins, and AFB1 in maize and found that increasing warmth and dryer weather will favor fumonisins and aflatoxins in maize, and warm temperatures with excessive rain will increase DON in wheat. This also applies to DON contamination in maize [ 15 , 25 ].…”

The Effect of Environmental Factors on Mould Counts and AFB1 Toxin Production by Aspergillus flavus in Maize

“…Aspergillus strains were found in 63.5% of the examined samples, of which 18.8% were able to produce aflatoxin. In 2012 and 2017, aflatoxin-contaminated grain was also detected [ 34 ]. Virág et al [ 35 ] examined the presence of A. flavus and A. niger in the field between 2019–2020.…”

The Role of Preharvest Natural Infection and Toxin Contamination in Food and Feed Safety in Maize, South-East Hungary, 2014–2021

“…Masic et al [ 25 ] reported on maize samples from Hungary, but the status of the samples (preharvest or stored) was not provided. In Hungary, data on 17,011 maize samples regarding mycotoxins was published from 2012 to 2017 [ 26 ]. Aflatoxins were found every year, with maximums between 0.44 and 115 μg/kg.…”

“…Aflatoxins were found every year, with maximums between 0.44 and 115 μg/kg. As the data originated mostly from stored mixed corn samples, no conclusions could be drawn about the preharvest or postharvest origins of the contamination or the possible role of resistance [ 26 ]. Therefore, aflatoxin was included into the tested toxins.…”