OCCURRENCE OF FUSAPROLIFERIN, FUMONISIN B-1, AND BEAUVERICIN IN MAIZEFROM ITALY

The occurrence of fusaproliferin (FP) was investigated in 22 samples o f preharvest maize ears Fusarium rot, collected in 1994 in Italy. The most frequently recovered Fusarium species were Fusarium moniliforme a nd Fusarium proliferatum. Chemical analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry identified FP (up to 500 mg/kg) in nine samples mostly infected by F. proliferatum. FP was often found to be associated with fumonisin B-1 (FB1) (up to 3 00 mg/kg) and beauvericin (BEA) (up to 520 mg/kg): The occurrence of F P as a natural maize contaminant and its co-occurrence with FB1 and BE A Is reported here for the first time.