Impact of climatic conditions on fumonisins in maize grown in Serbia

The influence of climatic conditions on the levels of fumonisins in maize grown in Serbia was studied over eight years (2008 to 2015), investigating the possible relationship between the levels of fumonisins contamination in maize in relation to registered weather/climatic conditions. Presence of these mycotoxins in maize after harvest was evaluated based on climatic conditions within two periods: 10 days before and 10 days after 50% silking. Categories of fumonisins levels were transformed into classes. Chi-square test for association was used in analysing relationships between results of fumonisins levels and calendar years. Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare differences between meteorological data of two subsets in years with high and low fumonisins level. There was a statistically significant association between the fumonisins levels and calendar years chi(2)=247.954; (P<0.05). This study identified low precipitation and low humidity combined with high solar radiation as a critical parameter combination for elevated levels of fumonisins. The statistically significant difference in relation to some of the examined parameters suggests that maize in Serbian agro-climatic conditions is more susceptible to fungal colonisation, and subsequent fumonisin production in the period of 10 days before 50% silking.