Relación entre incidencia de Fusarium verticillioides y variables de calidad de grano bajo condiciones de almacenamiento de maíz en Tucumán, Argentina

Abstract

Successful marketing chances of corn kernels depend on interfering factors during the handle of pre and post harvesting. The knowledge of the incidence of pathogens with toxigenic potential, as well as mycotoxin levels, in the commercial consignments stored in plastic bags is important. The objectives of this research were: to evaluate the incidence of Fusarium spp. section Liseola with toxigenic potential in stored grains; to establish the relation between levels of incidence and commercial quality variables; and quantify levels of pollution of fumonisin in different silos. Results showed that Fusarium verticillioides prevailed in storage conditions. Its average incidence was between 15 and 17 %, varying between silos. Two out of six regression variables: broken grain and humidity, were important in explaining the variability of Fusarium verticillioides incidence on the stored grains. The average values of fumonisins in plastic bags varied between 0,01 and 7,37 ppm. Also, there was a linear relation between incidence of F. verticillioides and levels of fumonisins, in spite of an adjustment not so high (R2= 0,57). This work provides information for our region on the prevailing of Fusarium spp. section
Liseola in stored grains with high potential to produce fumonisins, as in the case of Fusarium verticillioides. It is also reported the level of pollution of stored grains and the importance of the breaking of grains to be colonized
by this pathogen.