Fusarium species (section Liseola) and its mycotoxins in maize harvested in northern Argentina

Maize and maize products harvested in small fields and stored by farmers in northern Argentina were assayed for Fusarium and fumonisin and beauvericin contamination. Fumonisins were present in six of the 18 samples. The levels of fumonisins ranged from 603 to 1888 ng/kg. Fumonisin B(3) (FB(3)) and beauvericin were not detected in the samples evaluated. Fusarium subglutinans was one of the most prevalent species isolated. Twenty-five strains of F. subglutinans isolated from maize kernels and belonging to Gibberella fujikuroi mating population E were beauvericin-producers in culture. Seven of these strains also produced moniliformin. This is the first report on beauvericin-production by maize isolates of F. subglutinans from Argentina.