Am. Julian et al., FUNGAL CONTAMINATION AND SELECTED MYCOTOXINS IN PREHARVEST AND POSTHARVEST MAIZE IN HONDURAS, Mycopathologia, 129(1), 1995, pp. 5-16
Sixty nine samples of maize were collected from pre-harvest standing c
rops and on-farm storage facilities from 52 smallholder farms located
within 4 regions of Honduras during October 1992 and November 1993. Sa
mples were visually assessed for insect damage and fungal spoilage, an
d the mycoflora quantified on artificial media. The major components o
f the ear rot complex were: Fusarium moniliforme, F. moniliforme var.
subglutinans, Penicillium species, Stenocarpella maydis, S. macrospora
and Acremonium spp. Representative samples were also assayed for myco
toxin content. Fumonisin B-1 was detected in all 24 samples tested at
levels of between 68-6,555 (mu g/kg), and aflatoxin was detected in 2
samples heavily contaminated with Aspergillus flavus. Moniliformin and
tenuazonic acid were not detected in the samples tested. The implicat
ions of these findings for human and livestock health risk are discuss
ed, together with possible strategies for controlling these pathogens.