Accumulation of fumonisins, beauvericin and fusaproliferin in maize hybrids inoculated under field conditions with Fusarium proliferatum

The ear rot severity of 15 maize hybrids and the accumulation of fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FP) after artificial inoculation in the field with a toxigenic strain of Fusarium proliferatum have been investigated in Poland during the seasons 1996, 1997 and 1999. The year of inoculation proved a significant infuence on ear infection degree and mycotoxin accumulation. Inoculated ears contained 11-71% Fusarium-damaged kernels. Mycotoxins were detected in all hybrids at levels of 18-231.9 µg g-1 for FB1, 0.4-26.5 µg g-1 for FB2, 0.2-19.6 µg g-1 for BEA and 0.3-6.4 µg g-1 for FP. Mycotoxin concentrations were higher in Fusarium-damaged kernels (up to 361.5, 41.1, 44.3 and 10.0 µg g-1 for FB1, FB2, BEA and FP, respectively) than in healthy-looking kernels (up to 26.0, 2.3, 1.9, 0.3 µg g-1 for FB1, FB2, BEA and FP, respectively). All hybrids showed high susceptibility to the fungal infection and high toxin content in kernels during the three years of investigation.