Occurrence of Fusarium species and the potential accumulation of its toxins in Egyptian maize grains

Surveys were carried out in 2011, 2012 and 2014 in three Governorates of Delta (El-Beheira, El-Dakahlya and El- Qalyubia) to evaluate the presence of fusarium and its toxins in maize grains at harvest. Fusarium species were the most abundant species detected in maize kernel using deep freezing blotter method. While, Aspergillus section flavi and nigri were the most dominant species detected in maize kernels on Potato Dextrose Agar, followed by penicillium species. F. verticilloids was the most prevalent Fusarium species, followed by F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans, representing of 67.2%, 51.7 and 43% in samples from El-Beheira, El-Dakahlya and El- Qalyubia during 2011, respectively. While during 2012, the percentage averages were 37.5 %, 20.2% and 35.1% in samples from El-Beheira, El-Dakahlya and El-Qalyubia, respectively. Fumonisin B1 and zeralenone were the predominant mycotoxin. Fumonisin B1 was detected in 32.3, 36.8 and 93.3% of samples in 2011, 2012 and 2014, respectively. Also, zeralenone were detected in 38.7, 36.8 and 33.3% in 2011, 2012 and 2014, respectively. The maximum value of FB1 (9.8 mg kg-1) was detected in El- Qalyubia in 2012, whereas the highest value of zeralenone was detected in El- Qalyubia in 2014 recording 7.2 mg kg-1. Deoxynivalenol was not detected in any sample.