AFLATOXINS IN MAIZE FROM SERBIA: A TEN-YEAR REPORT

Abstract

Aflatoxins (AFS) are carcinogenic and highly toxic compounds produced by Aspergillus species. Food and feed contaminated with AFS pose a high risk to human and animal health. In terms of the Republic of Serbia, the main concern is related to the prevalence of AFS in maize. Serbia represents a leader in maize production and exports in Europe, and it is among the top 10 exporters in the world. In the recent years maize yield as well as quality and safety are strongly affected by weather conditions. This report aimed to present AFS occurrence in harvested maize samples from Serbia in the ten years (2012-2021). Maize samples were collected from maize growing seasons which were characterized by extreme drought (2012), hot and dry conditions (2013, 2015, 2017, 2021), extreme precipitation (2014), and weather conditions usual for a moderate-continental climate (2016, 2018, 2020). The highest AFS concentrations, as well as contamination frequency of AFS were detected in maize samples originating from the 2012 maize growing season, followed by 2015, 2021, 2013, and 2017. On the other hand, in samples originating from 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020, there were no AFS detected. The obtained results indicate that changes in weather conditions, recorded in the period of ten years, had a significant influence on the presence or absence of AFS in maize. They were detected in samples from five among ten investigated years, and in all contaminated samples, from each year, aflatoxin B1 was the most dominant. In the period of ten investigated years, Serbia was faced with climate changes which had a great overall impact on the prevalence of AFS in maize. The findings of this report as well as climate change prediction for South-East Europe indicate that maize from Serbia may become susceptible to problems concerning AFS and therefore there is a need for Serbia to enhance the control strategy of maize as well as maize management practices which would greatly contribute to improving the quality and safety of food and feed.