The aflatoxin-in-maize problem: the historical perspective
1987
Lillehoj, E.B. (US Department of Agriculture, New Orleans, LA (USA) | Agricultural Research Service)
The discovery of aflatoxin in agricultural commodities introduced a new area of research: mycotoxicology. This review summarizes the historical development of aflatoxin problems in maize and the attendant responses in the agricultural research community. Originally, studies were focused on the stored commodity, since the two toxin-producing species, Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, were considered storage fungi. Laboratory investigations identified major factors influencing development of the toxin-producing species in storage, such as moisture, tempe1806rature, aeration and substrate. Various modifications of key components of the storage environment were developed to control the fungi. The discovery of preharvest infection of developing maize kernels by A. flavus/A. parasiticus and subsequent production of aflatoxin introduced a new facet of mycotoxicology. The ocurrence of storage fungi in the field required a radical reorientation of scientific thinking. The same environmental factors that influence fungi in storage appear to affect the processes of field infection/contamination to varying degrees. However, in the developing maize ecosystems, agricultural activities dramatically influence interacting species, including host plants, attendant microbes, arthropods and other pests. In spite of the complexity of the preharvest contamination process, carefully conceived experiments have identified several important aspects of the problem. Contributing factors are assessed along with strategies for general control of aflatoxin-contaminated maize, with special emphasis on preharvest prob
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