Detección de especies potencialmente toxígenas de aspergilus y fusarium en maíz y avenadiseño de nuevas estrategias sostenibles para su control

Résumé

Cereal crops are often contaminated by diverse fungal species, and Fusarium and Aspergillus genera are the most important due to they include the main mycotoxinproducing species. The presence of these fungal species in the grains supposes a serious problem since cereals are a major food source for both human and animal diets. In the cases when storage conditions are not adequate, contaminating fungi may produce mycotoxins. These compounds threaten food safety, as well as human and animal health, and cause important economic losses in agricultural sector. Taking into account the risk posed by mycotoxins, the European Union has set the maximum limits in cereals and their derivatives. Moreover, the Codex Alimentarius, which was created by FAO, explains different measures, that can help to minimize mycotoxin contamination risk in cereal grains including the establishment of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Whether humidity and temperature conditions during cereal storage cannot be controlled, conventional fungicides are often used to prevent fungal growth and, therefore, mycotoxin occurrence in the grains. However, fungicides are in the spotlight since they could be harmful compounds for human and animal health as well as for the environment. Currently, the consumers demand more natural products, which makes necessary the search for new effective and environmentally friendly control methods...