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. 2021 Nov 26;13(12):847.
doi: 10.3390/toxins13120847.

Toxigenic Species Aspergillus parasiticus Originating from Maize Kernels Grown in Serbia

Milica Nikolić  1 , Iva Savić  1 , Ana Nikolić  1 , Marko Jauković  2 , Vesna Kandić  1 , Milan Stevanović  1 , Slavica Stanković  1
Affiliations

Toxigenic Species Aspergillus parasiticus Originating from Maize Kernels Grown in Serbia

Milica Nikolić et al. Toxins (Basel). .

Abstract

In Serbia, aspergillus ear rot caused by the disease pathogen Aspergillus parasiticus (A. parasiticus) was first detected in 2012 under both field and storage conditions. Global climate shifts, primarily warming, favour the contamination of maize with aflatoxins in temperate climates, including Serbia. A five-year study (2012-2016) comprising of 46 A. parasiticus strains isolated from maize kernels was performed to observe the morphological, molecular, pathogenic, and toxigenic traits of this pathogen. The HPLC method was applied to evaluate mycotoxin concentrations in this causal agent. The A. parasiticus isolates synthesised mainly aflatoxin AFB1 (84.78%). The percentage of isolates synthesising aflatoxin AFG1 (15.22%) was considerably lower. Furthermore, the concentration of AFG1 was higher than that of AFB1 in eight isolates. The polyphase approach, used to characterise isolates, showed that they were A. parasiticus species. This identification was verified by the multiplex RLFP-PCR detection method with the use of restriction enzymes. These results form an excellent baseline for further studies with the aim of application in the production, processing, and storage of cereal grains and seeds, and in technological processes to ensure the safe production of food and feed.

Keywords: Aspergillus parasiticus; aflatoxins; maize.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Assessment of pathogenicity of A. parasiticus isolates on maize hybrids. Legend: the vertical bar indicates the standard error of the mean.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Diameter of conidia (µm) of all isolates A. parasiticus originating from MEA growth media. Legend: the vertical bar indicates the standard error of the mean.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The diameter of sclerotia of A. parasiticus isolates on the CZ substrate. Legend: vertical bars present a standard error of mean.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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