BEAUVERICIN AND FUMONISIN B-1 IN PREHARVEST FUSARIUM-MONILIFORME MAIZE EAR ROT IN SARDINIA

Six selected samples of preharvest maize ear rot, from different local ities in Sardinia, Italy, were examined for causal Fusarium species an d associated mycotoxins. All samples were almost exclusively found to be affected by Fusarium moniliforme, which was isolated from all infec ted ear sample kernels (100%). In two samples, in addition to F. monil iforme, F. proliferatum was also present but in a reduced percentage o f kernels (up to 42%). All samples were found to be contaminated by fu monisin B-1 (up to 250 mg/kg). Four samples were also found to be cont aminated by beauvericin (up to 10 mg/kg), with higher concentration in samples also infected by F. proliferatum. When cultured on autoclaved maize kernels for 4 weeks at 25 degrees C, all 13 strains of F. monil iforme examined produced fumonisin B-1 (up to 3750 mg/kg), whereas onl y three strains also produced beauvericin, but in very low amounts (5 mg/kg). In the same assay, four isolates of F. proliferatum also produ ced high amounts of fumonisin BI (up to 2500 mg/kg) but this was assoc iated with higher concentrations of beauvericin (up to 175 mg/kg). Thi s is the first indication of the production of beauvericin by F. monil iforme, as well as of its co-occurrence with fumonisin Bi in preharves t F, moniliforme maize ear rot.