New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Mycotoxins in New Zealand maize:
a study of some factors influencing contamination levels in grain
D. R. LAUREN
D. J. JENSEN
W. A. SMITH
B. W. DOW
The Horticulture and Food Research
Institute of New Zealand
Ruakura Research Centre
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton, New Zealand
S. T. SAYER*
New Zealand Pastoral Agriculture
Research Institute
Ruakura Research Centre
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton, New Zealand
*Present address: 109 Endeavour Avenue, Hamilton.
Abstract Samples of grain from New Zealand grown maize
(Zea mays L.), collected from yield comparison strip trials at harvest
during 1992, 1993, and 1994, were analysed for contamination by the
Fusarium mycotoxins nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON), and
zearalenone (ZEN). The samples collected in 1992 were also assessed for the
incidence of infection by Fusarium spp. The samples mostly represented
commercially grown hybrids, and 12 of the hybrids were sampled more extensively
and were collected in each year of the study. The incidence of mycotoxin
contamination was high in each year, especially by the two trichothecenes, NIV
and DON. The levels found in 1992 were generally higher than in 1993 and 1994.
Much of this was because of adverse weather conditions during the 1991/92
season which led to delayed harvest. In each year samples harvested after early
June tended to have higher contamination levels. It was also observed in the
1992 season that Fusarium infection levels were higher in the later
harvested samples. Some hybrids were more susceptible to accumulation of
mycotoxin contaminants, and from the 12 extensively sampled hybrids, four could
be identified which overall had higher toxin levels. These hybrids had a marked
impact on the overall contamination levels found in each season studied. The
findings of the study indicate that only hybrids less susceptible to mycotoxin
contamination should be used in New Zealand and that cultural practices should
be changed to ensure early harvesting of all crops.
Keywords maize; Zea mays; mycotoxins; Fusarium;
nivalenol; deoxynivalenol; zearalenone; contamination; hybrid susceptibility;
time of harvest
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1996, Vol. 24:
13-20
0114-0671/96/2401-0013 $2.50/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1996
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (627K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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