ADVERTISEMENTS:
In this article we will discuss about the Prevention of Mycotoxin in Maize.
Prevention of mycotoxin in maize encompasses prevention of toxin biosynthesis and metabolism in the field or in storage. Mycotoxin detoxification refers to post-harvest treatments to remove, destroy or reduce the toxic effects. Failure to prevent mycotoxin formation in the field or in storage will inevitably lead to increased health risks and economic loss.
However, successful monitoring should prevent mycotoxin from becoming a significant source of increased health risks. Grain spoilage and mycotoxin contamination of grain is not always a result of a poor storage as some mycotoxin particularly fumonisin may already be in the grain when they are brought in storage.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
For scientific storage, drying of food grains to safe moisture level is important. An integrated approach is the preferred strategy for managing mycotoxin contamination. The pre- or post-harvest strategy that is most appropriate will depend on the climatic conditions of that particular year.
Understanding the environmental factors that promote infection, growth and toxin production is the first step towards an effective plan to minimize mycotoxin in food and feed. Fusarium moniliforme is the most common pathogen of maize.
In maize, F. moniliforme is a seed-borne endophyte without symptoms, so its elimination is difficult. Tillage practices, crop rotation, weed control, late-season rainfall, wind and pest vectors can all affect the amount and source of the fungal inoculum that maintains the disease cycle in maize.
Many of the new and exciting pre-harvest prevention strategies that are being explored involve production of genetically engineered resistant maize.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Biocontrols using non-toxigenic bio-competitive agents are also a potentially useful strategy in maize. Post-harvest prevention of mycotoxin production is primarily dependent on good management practices before and after harvest.
Detoxification strategies that are physical, chemical or microbiological can detoxify maize by destroying, modifying or absorbing the mycotoxin so as to reduce or eliminate the toxic effects.
