94
Views
19
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Preharvest aflatoxin contamination of corn and other grain crops grown on the U.S. Southeastern Coastal Plain

, , , , &
Pages 169-179 | Received 05 Sep 2008, Accepted 10 Oct 2008, Published online: 28 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

Preharvest aflatoxin contamination of grain grown on the U.S. Southeastern Coastal Plain is provoked and aggravated by both biotic and abiotic stress factors that influence infection by the Asperigillus group. Asperigillus flavus, Link ex Fr., is one of the principal toxigenic fungi of summer grains grown in the region, and the hot, humid weather patterns along with suboptimal summer rainfall favor the development of this organism. An array of arthropod species also contributes to the dispersal of this fungus as they attack and feed on the developing grain. Research on summer grains grown on the Coastal Plain has the expressed goal of reducing, and perhaps eliminating aflatoxin contamination in adapted germplasm using classical crop improvement methods to deploy host plant resistance. This research is complimented and enhanced by molecular techniques that have proven invaluable in the identification and development of superior germplasm. It also emphasizes the need to fully understand the biological interactions between fungus, arthropods, crops, and the environmental conditions that govern the aflatoxin contamination. Alternative cropping systems that avoid contamination are also integrated into this summary of this research progress.

Acknowledgments

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.