Pre-Harvest Modelling and Mitigation of Aflatoxins in Maize in a Changing Climatic Environment—A Review

• Main Authors: Tamás Dövényi-Nagy, Csaba Rácz, Krisztina Molnár, Károly Bakó, Zsombor Szláma, Ákos Jóźwiak, Zsuzsa Farkas, István Pócsi, Attila Csaba Dobos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
• Series: Toxins
• Subjects: aflatoxin contamination; maize; climate change; field modelling; agro-technical measures; temperate climatic zone
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/12/12/768

Aflatoxins (AFs) are harmful secondary metabolites produced by various moulds, among which <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> is the major AF-producer fungus. These mycotoxins have carcinogenic or acute toxigenic effects on both humans and food producing animals and, therefore, the health risks and also the potential economic damages mounted by them have led to legal restrictions, and several countries have set maximum allowable limits for AF contaminations in food and feed. While colonization of food and feed and AF production by <i>A. flavus</i> are highly supported by the climatic conditions in tropical and subtropical geographic regions, countries in the temperate climate zones are also increasingly exposed to AF-derived health risks due to climate change. In the present study, we have reviewed the available mathematical models as risk assessment tools to predict the possibility of <i>A. flavus</i> infection and levels of AF contaminations in maize in a changing climatic environment. After highlighting the benefits and possible future improvements of these models, we summarize the current agricultural practices used to prevent or, at least, mitigate the deleterious consequences of AF contaminations