TY - JOUR
T1 - Aflatoxin-producing fungi in maize field soils from sea level to over 2000masl
T2 - A three year study in Sonora, Mexico
AU - Ortega-Beltran, Alejandro
AU - Jaime, Ramon
AU - Cotty, Peter J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014.
PY - 2015/4/1
Y1 - 2015/4/1
N2 - Aflatoxins, highly toxic carcinogens produced by several members of Aspergillus section Flavi, contaminate crops in temperate zones. In the state of Sonora, Mexico, maize is cultivated from 0 to 2100masl with diverse cultivation practices. This is typical of the nation. In order to design better sampling strategies across Mexico, aflatoxin-producing fungal communities associated with maize production during 2006, 2007, and 2008 in Sonora were investigated in four agro-ecological zones (AEZ) at varying elevation. Fungal communities were dominated by the Aspergillus flavus L strain morphotype (46%), but variation occurred between years and among AEZ. Several atoxigenic isolates with potential to be used as biocontrol agents for aflatoxin mitigation were detected in all AEZ. The characteristics of each AEZ had minimal influences on fungal community structure and should not be a major consideration for future sampling designs for Mexico. Insights into the dynamics and stability of aflatoxin-producing fungal communities across AEZ are discussed.
AB - Aflatoxins, highly toxic carcinogens produced by several members of Aspergillus section Flavi, contaminate crops in temperate zones. In the state of Sonora, Mexico, maize is cultivated from 0 to 2100masl with diverse cultivation practices. This is typical of the nation. In order to design better sampling strategies across Mexico, aflatoxin-producing fungal communities associated with maize production during 2006, 2007, and 2008 in Sonora were investigated in four agro-ecological zones (AEZ) at varying elevation. Fungal communities were dominated by the Aspergillus flavus L strain morphotype (46%), but variation occurred between years and among AEZ. Several atoxigenic isolates with potential to be used as biocontrol agents for aflatoxin mitigation were detected in all AEZ. The characteristics of each AEZ had minimal influences on fungal community structure and should not be a major consideration for future sampling designs for Mexico. Insights into the dynamics and stability of aflatoxin-producing fungal communities across AEZ are discussed.
KW - Agro-ecological zones
KW - Community structure
KW - Elevation
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U2 - 10.1016/j.funbio.2014.12.006
DO - 10.1016/j.funbio.2014.12.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 25813508
AN - SCOPUS:84925295948
SN - 1878-6146
VL - 119
SP - 191
EP - 200
JO - Fungal Biology
JF - Fungal Biology
IS - 4
ER -