Review article

Prediction of mycotoxigenic molds incidence on agricultural crops

Tena Kuveždić ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Agronomski fakultet, Zavod za mikrobiologiju
Marija Duvnjak ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Agronomski fakultet, Zavod za hranidbu životinja
Irina Tanuwidjaja ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Agronomski fakultet, Zavod za mikrobiologiju
Mirna Mrkonjić Fuka orcid.org/0000-0002-8494-8805 ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Agronomski fakultet, Zavod za mikrobiologiju

Abstract

Mycotoxin synthesis takes place in specific environmental conditions, where temperature, humidity, and CO2 are considered the key factors in mycotoxin production. Due to climate change and increasingly frequent weather extremes those factors significantly change, hence, the previously established patterns of mold contamination and mycotoxin synthesis in agricultural crops are disrupted. However, the changes in mycotoxigenic mold contamination are expected to have a regional character, closely dependent on individual mold species, as each species grows and synthesizes toxic metabolites at optimal environmental conditions. Aflatoxins are predicted to become frequent grain contaminants in Europe, whilst the aflatoxigenic molds could go extinct in the tropics due to high temperatures. Also, the distribution and mycotoxins synthesis patterns of mycotoxigenic molds that produce ochratoxins and the members of the Fusarium genus will be modified. The increased presence of the molds F. graminearum, F. poae, and F. langsethiae on grains in northern and central Europe and the consequent contamination of these crops with deoxynivalenol and T-2 and HT-2 toxins are particularly concerning. The occurrence of F. verticillioides and maize contamination with fumonisins will be even more pronounced in southern Europe, as well as the contamination of wine with ochratoxins produced by A. carbonarius. Given climate change and its consequences, further research is necessary to design strategies for preventing crop contamination with mycotoxins in the future.

Keywords

mycotoxins; molds; agriculture; environmental factors

Hrčak ID:

259317

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/259317

Publication date:

24.6.2021.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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