Role of Fusarium species in mycotoxin contamination of maize

Abstract

Mycotoxin contamination of maize and other cereals is a globally important risk for human and animal health. The most frequently detected mycotoxins in maize are trichothecenes, zearalenone and fumonisins, which are causative agents for various diseases in domestic animals and they are a threat to humans either directly or indirectly. The main producers of these mycotoxins, Fusarium species are considered the most important pathogens in the temperate climate zone of maize. Between 2011 and 2014 numerous incidence of Fusarium species and mycotoxins were assessed from Hungarian maize samples after harvest. Samples were collected from 8-10 maize growing areas of Hungary from hybrids with various resistant levels. The isolated Fusarium strains were identified using morphologic and sequence-based methods. In 2011 and 2012 14.3% and 9.2% of maize samples were found to be contaminated with potentially toxigenic isolates. The ratios of Fusarium isolates were 60.3% and 68.1%, respectively. In 2013 and in the highly humid 2014, 50.1% and 71.4% of maize grains were contaminated, while 46% and 84.9% of the isolated fungal strains belonged to genus Fusarium. F. verticillioides isolates were identified in the largest proportion of the samples, which are potential fumonisin producers. Along with these species F. graminearum, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans and F. sporotrichioides isolates were also observed, which can produce trichothecens, beauvericin, moniliformin and toxin T-2. Representatives of Fusarium culmorum were not detected in any of the years examined.