Possible synergistic effect of nisin and propionic acid on the growth of the mycotoxigenic fungi Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus ochraceus, and Fusarium moniliforme.

The effects of nisin and propionic acid (PA) on aflatoxin production and on mycelial growth and spore germination of the mycotoxigenic fungi Aspergillus parasiticus, A. ochraceus, and Fusarium moniliforme were investigated. The growth of A. ochraceus was completely inhibited on media containing PA with nisin in concentrations of 0.05% PA with 1,000 ppm nisin, and 0.1% PA with 500 or 1,000 ppm nisin. The growth of both F. moniliforme and A. parasiticus was completely inhibited by PA with nisin at a concentration of 0.1% PA with 1,000 ppm nisin. Nisin alone caused a significant increase in mycelial growth when applied to A. ochraceus at 500 or 1,000 ppm and when applied to A. parasiticus at 1,000 ppm. Spore germination of A. ochraceus was completely inhibited on media containing 0.1% PA with 500 or 1,000 ppm nisin. Spores of F. moniliforme failed to germinate in 0.05% PA with 500 or 1,000 ppm nisin, whereas spores of A. parasiticus did not germinate on media containing 0.1% PA with 1,000 ppm nisin. For all three fungi tested, the inhibitory effect on mycelial growth was found to be fungistatic rather than fungicidal. The combined treatment of PA with nisin produced better fungistatic activity than treatment involving either material alone. Nisin, applied alone, did not stimulate aflatoxin production (expressed by microg toxin/mg mycelium), but the combined treatment at certain concentrations was inhibitory to aflatoxin B1 or G1. The production of aflatoxin G1, but not of B1, was stimulated in 0.05% PA with 1,000 ppm nisin and on media containing 0.1% PA with 100 ppm nisin. Nisin is currently applied in foods to prevent spoilage induced by bacteria but not by mold. The results of the present study indicate that a combined treatment of nisin in small concentrations of PA might be useful in preventing mold damage in certain foods and stored grain.     

Natural occurrence of zearalenone and toxicogenic fungi in amaranth grain.

Zearalenone was detected as the natural contaminant in two samples of Amaranthus cruentus grains (1980 micrograms/kg and 420 micrograms/kg, respectively). Fungi isolated from these samples were screened for mycotoxin production. Two of eight isolates of Fusarium (F. equiseti and F. moniliforme) produced zearalenone. One of four isolates of Aspergillus flavus and all four isolates of A. parasiticus produced aflatoxins. Other species potentially toxicogenic such as Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium viridicatum, P. puberulum, P. crustosum, P. citrinum, P. expansum and Fusarium solani were also found.     

Antimycotoxigenic characteristics of Rosmarinus officinalis and Trachyspermum copticum L. essential oils

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a highly toxic and carcinogenic metabolite produced by Aspergillus species on food and agricultural commodities. Natural products may regulate the cellular effects of aflatoxins and evidence suggests that aromatic organic compounds of spices can control the production of aflatoxins. With a view to controlling aflatoxin production, the essential oils from Rosmarinus officinalis and Trachyspermum copticum L. were obtained by hydrodistillation. Antifungal activities of the oils were studied with special reference to the inhibition of Aspergillus parasiticus growth and aflatoxin production. Minimal inhibitory (MIC) and minimal fungicidal (MFC) concentrations of the oils were determined. T. copticum L. oil showed a stronger inhibitory effect than R. officinalis on the growth of A. parasiticus. Aflatoxin production was inhibited at 450 ppm of both oils with that of R. officinalis being stronger inhibitor. The oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The major components of R. officinalis and T. copticum L. oils were Piperitone (23.65%), alpha-pinene (14.94%), Limonene (14.89%), 1,8-Cineole (7.43%) and Thymol (37.2%), P-Cymene (32.3%), gamma-Terpinene (27.3%) respectively. It is concluded that the essential oils could be safely used as preservative materials on some kinds of foods to protect them from toxigenic fungal infections.     

Evaluation of Substrate Potentiality and Inhibitory Effects to Identify High Risk Spices for Aflatoxin Contamination

Growth and aflatoxin production by A. parasiticus (NRRL 2999) on autoclaved whole, ground and also surface sterilized black pepper, cardamom, red pepper, dry ginger and turmeric were studied. Cardamom did not support detectable fungal growth or aflatoxin production. Black pepper and turmeric appeared to be poor sub-strates as they supported comparatively less fungal growth and afla-toxin production. Red pepper and ginger were found to be better substrates for fungal growth as well as for aflatoxin production. Ether and chloroform extracts of cardamom and turmeric inhibited aflatoxin production almost completely. The inhibitory activity of cardamom oil and curcumin indicated that they might be the active principles.     

Influence of inoculum and climatic factors on the severity of Fusarium head blight in German spring and winter barley

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of small cereals is a disease of global importance with regard to economic losses and mycotoxin contamination harmful to human and animal health. In Germany, FHB is predominantly associated with wheat and F. graminearum is recognised as the major causal agent of the disease, but little is known about FHB of barley. Monitoring of the natural occurrence of FHB on Bavarian barley revealed differences for individual Fusarium spp. in incidence and severity of grain infection between years and between spring and winter barley. Parallel measurement of fungal DNA content in grain and mycotoxin content suggested the importance of F. graminearum in winter barley and of F. langsethiae in spring barley for FHB. The infection success of these two species was associated with certain weather conditions and barley flowering time. Inoculation experiments in the field revealed different effects of five Fusarium spp. on symptom formation, grain yield and mycotoxin production. A significant association between fungal infection of grain and mycotoxin content was observed following natural or artificial infection with the type B trichothecene producer F. culmorum, but not with the type A trichothecene-producing species F. langsethiae and F. sporotrichioides. Trichothecene type A toxin contamination also occurred in the absence of significant damage to grain and did not necessarily promote fungal colonisation.     

不同植物精油对大米青霉和黑曲霉的抑菌效果

为探明部分植物精油对大米的防霉效果,选取提自蓝桉叶、薄荷、山苍子、孜然、丁香、肉桂、花椒、香茅以及迷迭香的9种精油为研究对象,以大米青霉和黑曲霉为目标菌,通过测定抑菌圈直径、最小抑菌浓度、最低生长下降浓度和联合抑菌效果,以确定单一精油的抑菌效果、复配精油的协同抑菌效果及其最佳配比。结果表明,在所选9种精油中,肉桂和丁香精油对大米青霉和黑曲霉的抑菌效果最好,山苍子和蓝桉叶精油次之。在两两复配精油中,当肉桂精油与山苍子精油的比例为3:1(v/v)时,对大米青霉和黑曲霉的抑制效果最佳,其最小抑菌浓度为0.1 μL/mL,比单一精油的浓度下降了20~180倍。研究表明按适当比例复配的肉桂与山苍子复合精油是具良好应用前景的大米防霉保鲜剂。     

In vitro inhibitory effect of tetrahydrocurcuminoids on Fusarium proliferatum growth and fumonisin B₁ biosynthesis

Many plant pathogens produce toxic metabolites when growing on food and feed. Some antioxidative components seem to prevent fungal growth and mycotoxin formation. Recently, we synthesized a new class of powerful antioxidative compounds, i.e. tetrahydrocurcuminoids, and its structure/antioxidant activity relationships have been established. The South West of France produces large amounts of corn, which can be infected by Fusarium species, particularly F. proliferatum. In this context, the efficiency of tetrahydrocurcuminoids, which can be obtained from natural curcuminoids, was investigated to control in vitro the growth of F. proliferatum and the production of its associated mycotoxin, fumonisin B?. The relation between structure and antifungal activity was studied. Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC1), with two guaiacyl phenolic subunits, showed the highest inhibitory activity (measured as radial growth on agar medium) against the F. proliferatum development (67% inhibition at a concentration of 13.6 μmol ml?1). The efficiencies of THC2 (36% at a concentration of 11.5 μmol ml?1), which contains syringyl phenolic units, and THC3 (30% at a concentration of 13.6 μmol ml?1), which does not have any substituent on the aromatic rings, were relatively close. These results indicate that the simultaneous presence of guaiacyl phenols and the enolic function of the β-diketone moiety play an important role in the inhibition mechanisms. The importance of this combination was confirmed using n-propylguaiacol and acetylacetone as molecular models. Under the same conditions, ferulic acid and eugenol, other natural phenolic antioxidants, were less efficient in inhibiting fungal growth. THC1 also reduced fumonisin B? production in liquid medium by approximately 35, 50 and 75% at concentrations of 0.8, 1.3, and 1.9 μmol ml?1, respectively. These very low inhibitory concentrations show that tetrahydrocurcuminoids could be one of the most promising biobased molecules for the control of mycotoxinogen fungal strains.     

The effect of fungal competition on colonization of maize grain by Fusarium moniliforme, F. proliferatum and F. graminearum and on fumonisin B1 and zearalenone formation

The effect of water activity (0.98, 0.95, 0.93) and temperature (15, 25 degrees C) on fungal growth and toxin production from interactions between isolates of Fusarium moniliforme and F. proliferatum producing fumonisin, and an isolate of F. graminearum producing zearalenone, incubated at the same time on irradiated maize grains were determined in vitro. Populations (CFUs) of F. moniliforme and F. proliferatum were reduced to a greater or lesser extent by the presence of F. graminearum under all conditions tested, while that the presence of F. moniliforme or F. proliferatum had a minor inhibitory effect on fungal populations of F. graminearum. Fumonisin B, production by F. proliferatum was inhibited under all conditions tested, while fumonisin B1 production by F. moniliforme was inhibited at 15 degrees C and enhanced at 25 degrees C in the presence of F. graminearum. The level of zearalenone was not significantly modified in the presence of F. moniliforme and F. proliferatum under the conditions tested.     

Differentiation of toxigenic fungi using hyperspectral imagery

Some pathogenic fungi, Aspergillus flavus for example, produce mycotoxins that can contaminate grain products including wheat and corn. The contaminated grain poses a threat to the health of both humans and animals. Therefore, from the perspective of food safety and protection, it is important to detect and identify the different toxin-producing fungi encountered in food production. Earlier studies examined various spectral-based, non-destructive methods for the detection of fungi and toxins. The present report focused on the feasibility of using spectral image data for fungal species classification. A tabletop hyperspectral imaging system, VNIR-100E, was used for spectral and spatial data acquisition. A total of five fungal species were selected for a two-part experiment: Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium moniliforme (verticillioides), Aspergillus parasiticus, Trichoderma viride, and Aspergillus flavus. All fungal isolates were cultured on media under laboratory conditions and were imaged on day 5 of growth. The objective of the study was to use visible near-infrared hyperspectral imagery to differentiate fungal species. Results indicate that all five fungi are highly separable with classification accuracy of 97.7%. In addition, all five fungi could be classified by using only three narrow bands (bandwidth = 2.43 nm) centered at 743 nm, 458 nm, and 541 nm.     

Trichoderma viride suppresses fumonisin B1 production by Fusarium moniliforme

Biocontrol activity against Fusarium moniliforme was analyzed for a Trichoderma viride strain isolated from root segments of corn plants grown in Piedmont Georgia. The isolate suppressed radial extension of F. moniliforme colonies during cocultivation on potato dextrose agar and fumonisin B1 (FB1) production during incubation of both fungi on corn kernels. T. viride decreased radial extension of F. moniliforme by 46% after 6 days and by 90% after 14 days. Furthermore, the colony diameter of F. moniliforme was less at 14 days than at 5 days, suggesting that F. moniliforme mycelia were undergoing lysis. FB1 production by F. moniliforme on corn kernels decreased by 85% when both organisms were inoculated the same day onto corn kernels and by 72% when inoculation of T. viride was delayed by 7 days after F. moniliforme inoculation. These results are the first to demonstrate that T. viride can suppress FB1 production by F. moniliforme, thereby functioning to control mycotoxin production. Thus, this isolate may be useful in biological control to inhibit F. moniliforme growth as a preharvest agent to prevent disease during plant development and/or as a postharvest agent during seed storage to suppress FB1 accumulation when kernels are dried inadequately.     

INHIBITION OF SURFACE GROWTH OF TOXIGENIC AND NONTOXIGENIC ASPERGILLI AND PENICILLIA BY EUGENOL, ISOEUGENOL AND MONOLAURIN

Sabouraud dextrose agar, containing up to 300 ppm of eugenol, isoeugenol or monolaurin, was prepared. Eight strains of mycotoxin and non-mycotoxin-producing Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. were tested. Spore suspensions were spotted in the center of agar plates and the linear (radial) growth rate was measured during incubation. All agents inhibited mold growth, but isoeugenol and eugenol were more effective than monolaurin. The average decreases in linear growth rate in the presence of eugenol, isoeugenol and monolaurin were 56, 43 and 11% at 100 ppm and 81, 85 and 15% at 200 ppm, respectively. At 300 ppm eugenol and isoeugenol, all fungi were inhibited completely; however, monolaurin (up to 2000 ppm) did not prevent mold growth. Except for P. viridicatum NRRL 6062, the molds tested did not vary significantly (at p=0.05) in degree of inhibition by any particular antifungal agent .
A. parasiticus was grown in a yeast extract dextrose broth containing 100 ppm of the antifungal agents. Decreases in mycelial dry weight in the presence of eugenol, isoeugenol and monolaurin were 5.3, and 7.9, 10.5%, respectively. The corresponding reductions in aflatoxin B₁ synthesized were 58, 57 and 25%. In conclusion, eugenol and isoeugenol have strong antifungal properties which are best manifested when the surface growth of molds on solid media is monitored .     

Inhibitory effects of eugenol and thymol on Penicillium citrinum strains in culture media and cheese

In the present work we studied the antifungal effect of eugenol and thymol on the growth and production of citrinin from Penicillium citrinum (NRRL 2274 and NRRL 2269) in culture media and in different Spanish cheeses (Arzúa-Ulloa, Cebreiro and San Simón). The rate of growth was assessed by measuring colony diameters and the production of citrinin was measured using a rapid semi-quantitative fluorometric technique confirmed by RP-HPLC. A stronger inhibitory effect of eugenol than thymol was evident. 200 microg/ml of eugenol in solid culture medium increased the lag time of growth up to 9 days, and decreased the rate of colony growth. In liquid medium, a complete inhibition of fungal growth was observed. By contrast, thymol in the liquid culture medium only affected the growth rate. In Arzúa-Ulloa cheese, 200 microg/ml of eugenol fully inhibited fungal growth, while in Cebreiro cheese no effect was observed for this compound. Regarding the capacity to inhibit mycotoxin production 100 microg/ml eugenol delayed citrinin production until the sixth day, after which a limiting effect persisted. In Arzúa-Ulloa cheese, no citrinin was detected at a concentration of 150 microg/ml of eugenol, but citrinin was detected after 5 days in the case of thymol at the same concentration. In Cebreiro cheese, neither eugenol nor thymol prevented the production of citrinin at the concentrations applied.     

Effects of selected natural preservatives on the mycelial growth and ochratoxin A production of the food-related moulds Aspergillus westerdijkiae and Penicillium verrucosum

ABSTRACT

The present study examines the influence of the natural preservatives carvacrol, eugenol, trans-cinnamaldehyde and the essential oil (EO) Origanum vulgare on ochratoxin A (OTA) production and the mycelial growth of two food-related moulds, Penicillium verrucosum and Aspergillus westerdijkiae, by broth macro-dilution assay for 21 days. With the addition of ½ minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) carvacrol, eugenol and O. vulgare EO, the mycelial dry weight of both moulds decreased significantly over the whole incubation period of 7, 14 and 21 days. Trans-cinnamaldehyde slightly stimulated the growth of A. westerdijkiae and P. verrucosum at 14 and 21 days of incubation. Growth inhibition did not accompany inhibition of OTA production. Although the growth of both moulds was inhibited after the addition of ½ MIC carvacrol, eugenol and O. vulgare EO, the OTA production of the strong mycotoxin producer A. westerdijkiae was stimulated. Only trans-cinnamaldehyde inhibited the production of OTA with the addition of ½ MIC. P. verrucosum produced significantly less OTA than A. westerdijkiae, and its mycotoxin production was almost completely inhibited by the addition of ½ MIC of the natural preservatives.     

Natural maize phenolic acids for control of aflatoxigenic fungi on maize

ABSTRACT:  Natural phytochemicals may be an alternative to synthetic chemicals for controlling fungal growth and mycotoxin production in stored maize. A key to progress in this field is to select the best natural maize phytochemicals to be applied in a storage maize ecosystem. This research was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the natural phytochemicals trans-cinnamic acid (CA) and ferulic acid (FA) alone at concentrations of 20 to 30 mM and in 5 combinations on Aspergillus flavus Link and A. parasiticus Speare populations and aflatoxin B₁ production. Studies on Aspergillus population and aflatoxin B₁ production were carried out in maize grain in relation to a water activity a_w of 0.99, 0.97, 0.95, and 0.93. CA and FA at concentrations of 25 to 30 mM, respectively, and CA-FA mixture T9 (25 + 30 mM) were the treatments most effective at inhibiting A. flavus and A. parasiticus population at all a_w assayed after 11 d of incubation. At all a_w values, the mixture CA-FA T9 (25 + 30 mM) completely inhibited (100%) aflatoxin B₁ production by both strains at a_w= 0.99, 0.97, 0.95, and 0.93. Decreased aflatoxin B₁ levels in comparison with the control were observed with mixtures CA-FA T6 (10 + 25 mM), T7 (20 + 20 mM), and T8 (20 + 30 mM) of both strains in the majority of a_w assayed. The data show that CA and FA could be considered as effective fungitoxicants for A. flavus and A. parasiticus in maize in the a_w range 0.99 to 0.93. The information obtained shows promise for controlling aflatoxigenic fungi in stored maize.     

粮食真菌群落组成及多样性研究进展

真菌生长会导致粮食品质下降甚至真菌毒素污染,是造成粮食损失,引起食品卫生安全隐患的重要因素之一。当前,世界各国都十分重视粮食上真菌及真菌毒素污染的问题,明确粮食上真菌群落组成是真菌及毒素污染防控的关键。本文对粮食真菌的分类、危害以及我国粮食真菌群落组成及多样性研究进展进行了综述,介绍了真菌群落组成与真菌毒素污染的关系并探讨了真菌群落组成及多样性研究的应用前景,旨在为全面系统研究粮食真菌提供方法,从而为粮食真菌毒素精准防控的深入研究提供参考。     

Two-dimensional profiles of fumonisin B1 production by Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum in relation to environmental factors and potential for modelling toxin formation in maize grain

This study has examined in detail the effect of temperature (7-37 degrees C) and water availability (water activity, a(w), 0.89-0.97) on fumonisin B1 (FB1) production by an isolate of Fusarium moniliforme and F. proliferatum on irradiated maize grain after incubation for 28 days. The optimum conditions for F. moniliforme and F. proliferatum were 30 degrees C at 0.97 a(w) and 15 degrees C at 0.97 a(w), respectively. The maximum concentrations were 2861 mg kg(-1) and 17,628 mg kg(-1) dry wt. maize grain, respectively. At marginal a(w)/temperature conditions for growth (e.g. 0.89-0.91 a(w)) no FB1 was detected (<0.1 mg kg(-1)). A high variability was found between replicates for F. moniliforme, but not for F. proliferatum. These data were used to construct two-dimensional diagrams of all the a(w) x temperature conditions favourable for FB1 production for the first time. The data were also subjected to a polynomical regression, which demonstrated that there was a very good fit for the 15-30 degrees C range of temperature and at 0.97 a(w). However, at marginal environmental conditions this was not possible. This suggests that it may be possible to predict within a limited environmental range the potential for significant FB1 production.     

Post-harvest control strategies: minimizing mycotoxins in the food chain

Contamination of cereal commodities by moulds and mycotoxins results in dry matter, quality, and nutritional losses and represents a significant hazard to the food chain. Most grain is harvested, dried and then stored on farm or in silos for medium/long term storage. Cereal quality is influenced by a range of interacting abiotic and biotic factors. In the so-called stored grain ecosystem, factors include grain and contaminant mould respiration, insect pests, rodents and the key environmental factors of temperature, water availability and intergranular gas composition, and preservatives which are added to conserve moist grain for animal feed. Thus knowledge of the key critical control points during harvesting, drying and storage stages in the cereal production chain are essential in developing effective prevention strategies post-harvest. Studies show that very small amounts of dry matter loss due to mould activity can be tolerated. With <0.5% dry matter loss visible moulding, mycotoxin contamination and downgrading of lots can occur. The key mycotoxigenic moulds in partially dried grain are Penicillium verrucosum (ochratoxin) in damp cool climates of Northern Europe, and Aspergillus flavus (aflatoxins), A. ochraceus (ochratoxin) and some Fusarium species (fumonisins, trichothecenes) on temperate and tropical cereals. Studies on the ecology of these species has resulted in modelling of germination, growth and mycotoxin minima and prediction of fungal contamination levels which may lead to mycotoxin contamination above the tolerable legislative limits (e.g. for ochratoxin). The effect of modified atmospheres and fumigation with sulphur dioxide and ammonia have been attempted to try and control mould spoilage in storage. Elevated CO2 of >75% are required to ensure that growth of mycotoxigenic moulds does not occur in partially dried grain. Sometimes, preservatives based on aliphatic acids have been used to prevent spoilage and mycotoxin contamination of stored commodities, especially feed. These are predominantly fungistats and attempts have been made to use alternatives such as essential oils and anti-oxidants to prevent growth and mycotoxin accumulation in partially dried grain. Interactions between spoilage and mycotoxigenic fungi and insect pests inevitably occurs in stored grain ecosystems and this can further influence contamination with mycotoxins. Effective post-harvest management of stored commodities requires clear monitoring criteria and effective implementation in relation to abiotic and biotic factors, hygiene and monitoring to ensure that mycotoxin contamination is minimised and that stored grain can proceed through the food chain for processing.     

In vitro inhibitory effect of tetrahydrocurcuminoids on Fusarium proliferatum growth and fumonisin B1 biosynthesis

Many plant pathogens produce toxic metabolites when growing on food and feed. Some antioxidative components seem to prevent fungal growth and mycotoxin formation. Recently, we synthesized a new class of powerful antioxidative compounds, i.e. tetrahydrocurcuminoids, and its structure/antioxidant activity relationships have been established. The South West of France produces large amounts of corn, which can be infected by Fusarium species, particularly F. proliferatum. In this context, the efficiency of tetrahydrocurcuminoids, which can be obtained from natural curcuminoids, was investigated to control in vitro the growth of F. proliferatum and the production of its associated mycotoxin, fumonisin B₁. The relation between structure and antifungal activity was studied. Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC1), with two guaiacyl phenolic subunits, showed the highest inhibitory activity (measured as radial growth on agar medium) against the F. proliferatum development (67% inhibition at a concentration of 13.6?µmol?ml^?1). The efficiencies of THC2 (36% at a concentration of 11.5?µmol?ml^?1), which contains syringyl phenolic units, and THC3 (30% at a concentration of 13.6?µmol?ml^?1), which does not have any substituent on the aromatic rings, were relatively close. These results indicate that the simultaneous presence of guaiacyl phenols and the enolic function of the β-diketone moiety play an important role in the inhibition mechanisms. The importance of this combination was confirmed using n-propylguaiacol and acetylacetone as molecular models. Under the same conditions, ferulic acid and eugenol, other natural phenolic antioxidants, were less efficient in inhibiting fungal growth. THC1 also reduced fumonisin B₁ production in liquid medium by approximately 35, 50 and 75% at concentrations of 0.8, 1.3, and 1.9?µmol?ml^?1, respectively. These very low inhibitory concentrations show that tetrahydrocurcuminoids could be one of the most promising biobased molecules for the control of mycotoxinogen fungal strains.     

光催化技术降解粮油中真菌毒素的研究进展

粮油作物一直面临着真菌病害的问题,真菌在一定条件下产生了真菌毒素,这不仅造成食物浪费,还严重危害人和动物机体健康.物理、化学和生物脱毒方法可以在一定程度上吸附或降解真菌毒素,但存在解吸附、溶剂残留和降解产物复杂等问题.近年来兴起的光催化技术在真菌毒素降解上取得了良好的效果.简要综述光催化技术在粮油真菌毒素降解方面的最新...     

Strategies to reduce mycotoxin levels in maize during storage: a review

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the main cereals as a source of food, forage and processed products for industry. World production is around 790 million tonnes of maize because as a staple food it provides more than one-third of the calories and proteins in some countries. Stored maize is a man-made ecosystem in which quality and nutritive changes occur because of interactions between physical, chemical and biological factors. Fungal spoilage and mycotoxin contamination are of major concern. Aspergillus and Fusarium species can infect maize pre-harvest, and mycotoxin contamination can increase if storage conditions are poorly managed. Prevention strategies to reduce the impact of mycotoxin in maize food and feed chains are based on using a hazard analysis critical control point systems (HACCP) approach. To reduce or prevent production of mycotoxins, drying should take place soon after harvest and as rapidly as feasible. The critical water content for safe storage corresponds to a water activity (a _w) of about 0.7. Problems in maintaining an adequately low a _w often occur in the tropics where high ambient humidity make the control of commodity moisture difficult. Damage grain is more prone to fungal invasion and, therefore, mycotoxin contamination. It is important to avoid damage before and during drying, and during storage. Drying maize on the cob before shelling is a very good practice. In storage, many insect species attack grain and the moisture that can accumulate from their activities provides ideal conditions for fungal activity. To avoid moisture and fungal contamination, it is essential that the numbers of insects in stored maize should be kept to a minimum. It is possible to control fungal growth in stored commodities by controlled atmospheres, preservatives or natural inhibitors. Studies using antioxidants, essential oils under different conditions of a _w, and temperature and controlled atmospheres have been evaluated as possible strategies for the reduction of fungal growth and mycotoxin (aflatoxins and fumonisins) in stored maize, but the cost of these treatments is likely to remain prohibitive for large-scale use.