Aflatoxin problem in maize

摘要

Aflatoxin is a term, generally, used for a group of toxins which are toxic, highly carcinogenic and are produced during fungal infection of a susceptible crop in the field or after harvest. They contaminate food and feed, and threaten human and animalhealth. They pose serious problems in many countries of the world, especially, developing countries. The fungus invades several crop species- maize, groundnuts, chillies, millets, milk, coffee, etc. Maize (Zea mays L), one of the major cereal crops, isalso a suitable substrate for growth, development and activity of aflatoxigenic fungi causing major yield and economic losses. Most of the aflatoxin problems in maize are caused due to drought, extreme heat and maize ear injury from insect feeding, which create an environment favorable to these molds and to aflatoxin production.