Fusarium in maize during harvest and storage: a review of species involved, mycotoxins, and management strategies to reduce contamination

DINOLFO M.I. (CORRESPONDING AUTHOR); MARTINEZ M. (JOINT FIRST AUTORSHIP); CASTAÑARES E.; ARATA A.F.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2022 vol. 164 p. 151 - 166

0929-1873

Maize is one of the most important crops forfood and feed production worldwide. Many diseasesaffect maize kernels, reducing kernel quantity and quality.Fusarium species are the most important pathogenscapable of producing diseases in maize, whose presenceoften results in mycotoxin contamination. These mycotoxinscan produce severe diseases in consumers, leadingto regulatory decisions on the maximum acceptablecontent of mycotoxins in consumer products. The aimofthis study is to analyse the most important Fusariumspecies found in natural and storage conditions worldwide,and the associated mycotoxin content. Thus, therole of the mycotoxins, and the optimal conditions forfungal growth and mycotoxin production, have beenanalysed. Although maize hybrids with resistanceagainst these diseases are not available yet, strategiesthat could be adopted to reduce the impact of Fusariumon maize crops are summarized in this review.