Mycotoxins Co-contamination in Corn Grains

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of a research on 36 samples of maize. Mycotoxicological analyses showed that the most present mycotoxins were of the Fusarium mycotoxins group. During 2011, the maize samples were tested for the presence and content of total aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFM1, AFM2), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZON) and fumonisins (FUM). According to the results that we obtained through the research period i.e. vegetation year 2011, mycotoxicological profile for most maize samples was DON ‒ FUM ‒ ZON. DON mycotoxin was predominantly present in 2011. Precautionary measures are required especially with lower concentrations of mycotoxins when several mycotoxins are present simultaneously because this situation, according to conventional analytical methods, could be declared as quality safe or toxicologically negative finding.