Occurrence of Fusarium species in maize kernels grown in northwestern Spain. (25th November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aguín, O.; Cao, A.; Pintos, C.; Santiago, R.; Mansilla, P.; Butrón, A.
• Is Part Of: Plant pathology. Volume 63:Number 4(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 946
• Page End: 951
• Publication Date: 2013-11-25
• Subjects: Agricultural pests -- Periodicals; Plant diseases -- Periodicals; 632
• DOI: 10.1111/ppa.12151
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-0862

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ppa12151-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <italic>Fusarium</italic> poses food and feed safety problems because most species produce mycotoxins. To understand the epidemiology of the <italic>Fusarium</italic> disease, efforts must focus more precisely on how environmental variables affect disease presence. The objectives of the present study were to monitor the occurrence of <italic>Fusarium</italic> species in maize kernels in northwestern Spain to determine the risk of mycotoxin contamination and to identify environmental traits affecting the composition of the <italic>Fusarium</italic> species identified. A combination of 24 environments was evaluated. The percentage of kernels infected by <italic>F. verticillioides</italic> ranged from 33 to 99%, supporting the idea that fumonisin contamination is the main maize‐based feed and food safety concern in this area. In this region, temperature and humidity primarily affected <italic>Fusarium</italic> spp. occurrence. Warmer temperatures during the later stages of kernel development and during kernel drying increased the frequency of <italic>F. verticillioides</italic> in maize kernels, while the presence of <italic>F. subglutinans</italic> was increased by higher relative humidity during the silking stage and cooler temperatures during kernel drying.</p> </abstract>