Natural occurrence of aflatoxins in maize harvested in Serbia during 2009-2012

The aim of the present study was to determine concentration of aflatoxins (AFs) B-1, B-2, G(1) and G(2) in 380 maize samples collected from different regions of Serbia during four years period and to analyze the influence of weather conditions on the AFs production. Aflatoxins content was determined by direct competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. In 180 maize samples analyzed in 2009-2011 period AFs were not detected. However weather condition changes in 2012 caused AFs presence in 137 (68.5%) of samples in the concentration range from 1.01 to 86.1 mu g/kg with the mean level of 36.3 mu g/kg. The obtained results indicate great influence of hot and dry weather with prolonged drought during spring and summer 2012 on a contamination of maize with AFs. Since the obtained results present the first national report of AFs maize contamination this study could be of a great interest for establishing monitoring programs of AFs in Serbia. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.