Mycotoxins in maize: mitigation actions, with a chain management approach

Maize is the principal staple food/feed crop exposed to mycotoxins, and the co-occurrence of multiple mycotoxins and their metabolites has been well documented. This review presents the infection cycle, ecology, and plant-pathogen interactions of Aspergillus and Fusarium species in maize, and curren...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Roberta PALUMBO, Ana GONÇALVES, Athanasios GKRILLAS, Antonio LOGRIECO, Jean-Lou DORNE, Chiara DALL’ASTA, Armando VENÂNCIO, Paola BATTILANI
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Firenze University Press 2020-03-01
Series:Phytopathologia Mediterranea
Subjects:
Online Access:https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/pm/article/view/11142
Description
Summary:Maize is the principal staple food/feed crop exposed to mycotoxins, and the co-occurrence of multiple mycotoxins and their metabolites has been well documented. This review presents the infection cycle, ecology, and plant-pathogen interactions of Aspergillus and Fusarium species in maize, and current knowledge on maize chain management to mitigate the occurrence of aflatoxins and fumonisins. Preventive actions include at pre-harvest, as part of cropping systems, at harvest, and at post-harvest, through storage, processing, and detoxification to minimize consumer exposure. Preventive actions in the field have been recognized as efficient for reducing the entrance of mycotoxins into production chains. Biological control of Aspergillus flavus has been recognized to minimize contamination with aflatoxins. Post-harvest maize grain management is also crucial to complete preventive actions, and has been made mandatory in government food and feed legislation.
ISSN:0031-9465
1593-2095