Preharvest aflatoxin contamination of corn and other grain crops grown on the U.S. Southeastern Coastal Plain

Abstract

Preharvest aflatoxin contamination of grain grown on the U.S. Southeastern Coastal Plain is provoked and aggravated by both biotic and abiotic stress factors that influence infection by the Asperigillus group. Asperigillus flavus, Link ex Fr., is one of the principal toxigenic fungi of summer grains grown in the region, and the hot, humid weather patterns along with suboptimal summer rainfall favor the development of this organism. An array of arthropod species also contributes to the dispersal of this fungus as they attack and feed on the developing grain. Research on summer grains grown on the Coastal Plain has the expressed goal of reducing, and perhaps eliminating aflatoxin contamination in adapted germplasm using classical crop improvement methods to deploy host plant resistance. This research is complimented and enhanced by molecular techniques that have proven invaluable in the identification and development of superior germplasm. It also emphasizes the need to fully understand the biological interactions between fungus, arthropods, crops, and the environmental conditions that govern the aflatoxin contamination. Alternative cropping systems that avoid contamination are also integrated into this summary of this research progress.