title: Critical environmental and genotypic factors for Fusarium verticillioides infection, fungal growth and fumonisin contamination in maize grown in northwestern Spain.
abstract: In northwestern Spain, where weather is rainy and mild throughout the year, Fusarium verticillioides is the most prevalent fungus in kernels and a significant risk of fumonisin contamination has been exposed. In this study, detailed information about environmental and maize genotypic factors affecting F. verticillioides infection, fungal growth and fumonisin content in maize kernels was obtained in order to establish control points to reduce fumonisin contamination. Evaluations were conducted in a total of 36 environments and factorial regression analyses were performed to determine the contribution of each factor to variability among environments, genotypes, and genotype × environment interactions for F. verticillioides infection, fungal growth and fumonisin content. Flowering and kernel drying were the most critical periods throughout the growing season for F. verticillioides infection and fumonisin contamination. Around flowering, wetter and cooler conditions limited F. verticillioides infection and growth, and high temperatures increased fumonisin contents. During kernel drying, increased damaged kernels favored fungal growth, and higher ear damage by corn borers and hard rainfall favored fumonisin accumulation. Later planting dates and especially earlier harvest dates reduced the risk of fumonisin contamination, possibly due to reduced incidence of insects and accumulation of rainfall during the kernel drying period. The use of maize varieties resistant to Sitotroga cerealella, with good husk coverage and non-excessive pericarp thickness could also be useful to reduce fumonisin contamination of maize kernels.
authors.affiliation: Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), Apdo. 28, 36080 Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), Apdo. 28, 36080 Pontevedra, Spain. Electronic address: rsantiago@mbg.cisc.es.
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.affiliation: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agraria (ETSEA), Universidad de Lleida, XaRTA-UTPV, Agrotecnio, Avda Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enxeñería Forestal, Universidade de Vigo, A Xunqueira, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Xosé C
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.affiliation: Estación Fitopatolóxica do Areeiro, Deputación de Pontevedra. (Unidad Asociada-CSIC), Subida á Robleda, 36153 Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aguín
authors.affiliation: Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), Apdo. 28, 36080 Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa Ana
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Malvar
authors.affiliation: Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), Apdo. 28, 36080 Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Butrón
mesh_terms: D004777:Environment; D005516:Food Microbiology; D037341:Fumonisins / Q000032:analysis*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D008954:Models, Biological; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013030:Spain; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D037341:Fumonisins
keywords: Environment; Ergosterol; Fumonisin; Fusarium verticillioides; Maize