The role of ear environment in postharvest susceptibility of maize to toxigenic Aspergillus flavus

Abstract

A kernel screening assay (KSA) was used to assess the genetic and environmental effects on the vulnerability of maize to aflatoxin accumulation. Kernels of 26 inbred lines that had been grown in seven environments, and 190 lines of the Intermated B73xMo17 (IBM) population grown in one location in the United States, were inoculated with a toxigenic strain of A. flavus and incubated in the dark at 30°C for 6 days. Percent kernel colonization (PKC), sporulation and aflatoxin were influenced by the maize genotypes (G), the location (“ear environment” or E) and the GxE interactions. Overall, low broad‐sense heritabilities were observed for PKC, sporulation and aflatoxin. PKC was significantly correlated with sporulation in all environments. Aflatoxin was positively correlated with colonization for two and with sporulation for all ear environments. Higher grain sulphur or magnesium in IBM was associated with less colonization or aflatoxin. Postharvest susceptibility of maize to aflatoxin is thus influenced by factors that are modulated by the ear environment. In a KSA, sporulation could be a proxy test for aflatoxin accumulation.

Multiple Mycotoxins in Kenyan Rice

“…It has also been observed that specific farming methods, such as rotation with specific crop species (e.g., soybean) could reduce the occurrence of Fusarium and trichothecenes in wheat [ 69 ]. It has also been argued that kernel chemical composition, which is influenced by soil nutritional content, can affect the susceptibility of cereals to mycotoxins [ 70 ]. Besides soil and climatic conditions, multiple localized or region-based preharvest agronomic practices could influence the occurrence of mycotoxigenic fungi.…”

Comprehensive Review of Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin A Dynamics: Emergence, Toxicological Impact, and Advanced Control Strategies

“… Intrinsic crop characteristics: A crop’s inherent properties like nutritional content, pH, and genetic makeup also play a crucial role. Cultivating crops adapted to their specific environmental conditions can enhance their resistance to fungal spoilage [ 85 ]. …”

Application of the Biolog® Identification System for Aflatoxin-Producing Fungi Associated with Maize (Zea mays L.) Contamination in Romania

“…Maize crops are very susceptible to fungal attacks, both in the field and during storage (Mutiga et al, 2019). Depending on environmental conditions, a fungal infection might be mainly produced by species of Aspergillus (Sserumaga et al, 2020), Fusarium (Castañares et al, 2019) and Penicillium (Ekwomadu et al, 2018).…”