Infection by mycotoxigenic fungal species and mycotoxin contamination of maize grain in Umbria, central Italy

Surveys were carried out in 2006 and 2007 in Umbria (central Italy) to evaluate the presence of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in maize grain sampled at harvest. Fusarium spp., were the most abundant species detected in maize kernels, followed by Aspergillus species of sections Flavi and Nigri a...

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Main Authors: Covarelli, Lorenzo, Beccari, G., Salvi, S.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Pergamon 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67915
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author Covarelli, Lorenzo
Beccari, G.
Salvi, S.
author_facet Covarelli, Lorenzo
Beccari, G.
Salvi, S.
author_sort Covarelli, Lorenzo
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Surveys were carried out in 2006 and 2007 in Umbria (central Italy) to evaluate the presence of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in maize grain sampled at harvest. Fusarium spp., were the most abundant species detected in maize kernels, followed by Aspergillus species of sections Flavi and Nigri and by Penicillium spp. Among Fusarium species, F. verticillioides was the most prevalent species, as detected by PCR directly on the kernels and on the fungi isolated from the kernels, followed by F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans. Fumonisins were the predominant mycotoxins with values, on average, of 4.3 and 5.7mgkg -1 , in 2006 and 2007, respectively, with a maximum of 76.3mgkg -1 in the second year. Deoxynivalenol ranged from 0.2 to 3.98mgkg -1 in 2006 (average 1.04mgkg -1 ) and from undetectable levels to 14mgkg -1 in 2007 (average 0.86mgkg -1 ). Aflatoxins, analyzed only in 2007, averaged 26.3µgkg -1 , with a maximum of 820µgkg -1 . Zearalenone content was always very low. Results indicate that EU legal limits for these mycotoxins were rarely exceeded with low levels across most of the examined area, suggesting that this region could be considered suitable for the production of healthy maize. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-679152018-05-18T08:07:20Z Infection by mycotoxigenic fungal species and mycotoxin contamination of maize grain in Umbria, central Italy Covarelli, Lorenzo Beccari, G. Salvi, S. Surveys were carried out in 2006 and 2007 in Umbria (central Italy) to evaluate the presence of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in maize grain sampled at harvest. Fusarium spp., were the most abundant species detected in maize kernels, followed by Aspergillus species of sections Flavi and Nigri and by Penicillium spp. Among Fusarium species, F. verticillioides was the most prevalent species, as detected by PCR directly on the kernels and on the fungi isolated from the kernels, followed by F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans. Fumonisins were the predominant mycotoxins with values, on average, of 4.3 and 5.7mgkg -1 , in 2006 and 2007, respectively, with a maximum of 76.3mgkg -1 in the second year. Deoxynivalenol ranged from 0.2 to 3.98mgkg -1 in 2006 (average 1.04mgkg -1 ) and from undetectable levels to 14mgkg -1 in 2007 (average 0.86mgkg -1 ). Aflatoxins, analyzed only in 2007, averaged 26.3µgkg -1 , with a maximum of 820µgkg -1 . Zearalenone content was always very low. Results indicate that EU legal limits for these mycotoxins were rarely exceeded with low levels across most of the examined area, suggesting that this region could be considered suitable for the production of healthy maize. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67915 10.1016/j.fct.2011.06.047 Pergamon restricted
spellingShingle Covarelli, Lorenzo
Beccari, G.
Salvi, S.
Infection by mycotoxigenic fungal species and mycotoxin contamination of maize grain in Umbria, central Italy
title Infection by mycotoxigenic fungal species and mycotoxin contamination of maize grain in Umbria, central Italy
title_full Infection by mycotoxigenic fungal species and mycotoxin contamination of maize grain in Umbria, central Italy
title_fullStr Infection by mycotoxigenic fungal species and mycotoxin contamination of maize grain in Umbria, central Italy
title_full_unstemmed Infection by mycotoxigenic fungal species and mycotoxin contamination of maize grain in Umbria, central Italy
title_short Infection by mycotoxigenic fungal species and mycotoxin contamination of maize grain in Umbria, central Italy
title_sort infection by mycotoxigenic fungal species and mycotoxin contamination of maize grain in umbria, central italy
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67915