DATA ON THE CONTAMINATION OF MAIZE WITH FUMONISIN B-1 AND OTHER FUSARIOTOXINS IN HUNGARY

The fumonisin B-1, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin content o f maize samples collected in the period of storage and harvesting was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods. O f the mouldy maize samples collected in the period of storage, 70.8% c ontained fumonisin B-1 (0.05-19.8 mg/kg; average concentration: 2.6 mg /kg), 87.5% contained zearalenone (0.01-11.8 mg/kg, average concentrat ion: 1.26 mg/kg), 70% contained deoxynivalenol (0.07-21.2, average con centration: 4.33 mg/kg), and 41.7% contained T-2 toxin (0.06-0.39, ave rage concentration: 0.2 mg/kg). These mycotoxins often occurred togeth er in the samples. In the non-mouldy samples, both the positivity rate and the mycotoxin concentration were markedly lower. In the harvestin g period, the mycotoxin content of maize ears more or less affected by moulds (so-called ''affected sample'') and of the average sample was determined separately for each maize-field involved in the study. Of t he affected samples, 70% contained fumonisin B-1 (0.095-52.4 mg/kg; av erage: 6.64 mg/kg), 17% contained zearalenone (0.006-0.079 mg/kg; aver age: 0.03 mg/kg), 13% contained deoxynivalenol (0.05-0.118 mg/kg; aver age: 0.09 mg/kg), and 39% contained T-2 toxin (0.05-0.551 mg/kg; avera ge: 0.165 mg/kg). Fumonisin B-1 and T-2 toxin often occurred together in the affected maize samples. Of the ''average samples'', 30% were co ntaminated with fumonisin B-1 (0.06-5.1 mg/kg, average: 1.52 mg/kg) an d 9% with T-2 toxin (min.-max.-average: 0.05 mg/kg). The results call attention to the fact that maize cultivated in Hungary is often contam inated with fumonisin B-1. High concentrations of fumonisin B-1 were f ound primarily in the mouldy or affected maize ears; therefore, the de velopment of diseases caused by fumonisin B-1 should be reckoned with primarily if such maize is fed. Besides fumonisin B-1, mouldy or affec ted maize usually contains also other fusariotoxins, which raises the possibility of mycotoxin interactions. Because of the high prevalence of fumonisin B-1 in maize grown in Hungary, the authors suggest that s amples of maize used for feeding horses and pigs should be checked for fumonisin B-1 content.