Pre-Harvest Modelling and Mitigation of Aflatoxins in Maize in a Changing Climatic Environment—A Review
Tamás Dövényi-Nagy,
Csaba Rácz,
Krisztina Molnár,
Károly Bakó,
Zsombor Szláma,
Ákos Jóźwiak,
Zsuzsa Farkas,
István Pócsi,
Attila Csaba Dobos
Affiliations
Tamás Dövényi-Nagy
Agrometeorological and Agroecological Monitoring Centre, AKIT-DTTI, University of Debrecen, H4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Csaba Rácz
Agrometeorological and Agroecological Monitoring Centre, AKIT-DTTI, University of Debrecen, H4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Krisztina Molnár
Agrometeorological and Agroecological Monitoring Centre, AKIT-DTTI, University of Debrecen, H4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Károly Bakó
Agrometeorological and Agroecological Monitoring Centre, AKIT-DTTI, University of Debrecen, H4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Zsombor Szláma
Agrometeorological and Agroecological Monitoring Centre, AKIT-DTTI, University of Debrecen, H4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Ákos Jóźwiak
Digital Food Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, H1078 Budapest, Hungary
Zsuzsa Farkas
Digital Food Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, H1078 Budapest, Hungary
István Pócsi
Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, H4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Attila Csaba Dobos
Agrometeorological and Agroecological Monitoring Centre, AKIT-DTTI, University of Debrecen, H4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Aflatoxins (AFs) are harmful secondary metabolites produced by various moulds, among which Aspergillus flavus is the major AF-producer fungus. These mycotoxins have carcinogenic or acute toxigenic effects on both humans and food producing animals and, therefore, the health risks and also the potential economic damages mounted by them have led to legal restrictions, and several countries have set maximum allowable limits for AF contaminations in food and feed. While colonization of food and feed and AF production by A. flavus are highly supported by the climatic conditions in tropical and subtropical geographic regions, countries in the temperate climate zones are also increasingly exposed to AF-derived health risks due to climate change. In the present study, we have reviewed the available mathematical models as risk assessment tools to predict the possibility of A. flavus infection and levels of AF contaminations in maize in a changing climatic environment. After highlighting the benefits and possible future improvements of these models, we summarize the current agricultural practices used to prevent or, at least, mitigate the deleterious consequences of AF contaminations
