Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry (Jan 2016)
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, Lađevci 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 μg kg-1 (ZP 427), 12 μg kg-1 (ZP 341) and 1528.56 μg kg-1 (ZP 427). The concentrations of the tested mycotoxins in kernels did not exceed the maximum allowed limits stipulated by Serbian regulations (Službeni 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.
