Chiara Lanzanova1*, Francesca Fumagalli1, Stefania Mascheroni1, Fabrizio Facchinetti1, Sabrina Locatelli1
1 Consiglio per la sperimentazione in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia. Centro Cerealicoltura e Colture Industriali (CREA-CI), Via Stezzano, 24, 24126
Bergamo
*[email protected] Abstract
Maize varietal network of agronomic trials began in the mid-1950s with the introduction of the first hybrids from the USA, and was born in order to evaluate these materials that gradually replaced the old local varieties.
CREA Bergamo has been called to coordinate this public network that provided every year objective information about yield potential, adaptability, susceptibility to disease and destination use of different hybrids tested in order to supply hybrids the most suitable for cultivation in different environments and climatic conditions.
Over the past decade, with the spread of mycotoxins in Italy, safety of maize production has become increasingly important. During 2015 seven hybrids selected from maize varietal network were cultivated under different environmental and agronomic factors and analyzed by ELISA tests for a characterization in fumonisins, aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol and
zearalenone accumulation in the grain.
Keywords: maize, varietal network, micotoxins, safety
Parole chiave: mais, confronto varietale, micotossine, sicurezza alimentare Introduction
The varietal network of Maize agronomic trials began in the mid-1950s with the introduction of the first hybrids from the USA, and was born in order to evaluate these materials that gradually replaced the old local varieties. The existence of a public network that provided objective information about yield potential, adaptability to different crop environments, susceptibility to disease and destination use of different hybrids became therefore significant and CREA Bergamo was called to coordinate this activity. The agronomic trials – varietals network is based on the collaboration of various public and private subjects. Currently, about 70-80 maize hybrids belonging to 300-700 FAO maturity classes, are tested in 18-20 principal cultivation areas in Northern Italy (Piemonte, Lombardia, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna). Until the mid-1990s tests were essentially focused on general evaluation of productive potential and agronomic adaptability of hybrids, both grain and forage. Subsequently, agronomic factors such as sowing time, density, nitrogen fertilization, irrigation and insecticide treatments were introduced to evaluate a possible interaction with hybrids in order to identify materials that could better adapt to reduced agronomic inputs.
This network has also been a useful technical support for several national research projects concerning alerts such as the presence of insects (IDIAM), mycotoxin contamination (MICOCER, AFLARID, MICOPRINCEM) and the ban of use on use of neonicotinoid (APENET).
Over the past decade, with the spread of mycotoxins in Italian maize trade, safety of maize production has become increasingly important. In order to provide information on safety of Italian maize materials, within the RQC-Mais Project (Cereal Quality Network – Maize, Project 2014-2017), during the 2015, 7 of 40 hybrids selected from maize varietal network were cultivated under different environmental and agronomic factors and analyzed by ELISA tests for a characterization in the main mycotoxins: fumonisins (FBs), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone
(ZEA) accumulation in the grain.
Materials and Methods
Maize samples. In 2015, seven hybrids representative of the main FAO classes (500–600–700) were grown in nine
Locations 2015
Chivasso (TO) Noventa Vicentina (VI) Camino al Tagliamento (UD)
Beano (UD) Palazzolo dello stella (UD)
Gariga di Podenzano PC) Caleppio di Settala (MI)
Trigolo (CR)
Fig. 1: Distribution of trial fields during 2015 Fig. 1: Distribuzione delle località in prova durante il 2015 Agronomical factor input. For each hybrid, 32 samples were collected.
Weather conditions. 2015 season was characterized by an extremely hot and droughty summer. Thermal performance
above the average in May caused cold and adequate rains. Averaged extremely high temperatures, especially in July and moderately low precipitation have been observed during June, July and August.
Chemical analyses. The grain samples were milled with Retsch - ZM 200 mill with 0.5 mm sieve. Mycotoxin concentration
levels were determined by the Enzyme-Linked Immunoassorbent Assay (ELISA). The Ridascreen® R-Biopharm kit tests were performed using the Chemwell Automatic Awareness Engineer (inc.).
Results and Discussion
Total yield average of all seven hybrids cultivated in all locations and agronomic environments during 2015 was about 123 q/ha (15.5% moisture).
Preliminary results obtained point up, on average, a critical situation in 2015 both for FBs and AFB1, considering the level for these mycotoxin as raw material for direct human food consumption. In particular results indicated that agronomic environments with suitable fertilization, irrigation and sanitary protection provided both higher yields quality as indicated in the MIPAAF guidelines (Reyneri et al., 2015).
Fumonisins: during 2015 a total average value of 5234,38 µg/kg, with a minimum of 3918,69 µg/kg and a maximum of 7792,09 µg/kg of all cultivated hybrids was recorded. Overall, the average contaminant values of each hybrid have been placed above the EU level fixed for direct human food use (4000 µg /kg). All the analyzed samples were found to be suitable in comparison with the standards for feed raw materials (Table 2). No statistical significance was found in fumonisins accumulation.
Aflatoxin B1: preliminary data showed that total level of contamination of all hybrids selected and cultivated in the
different agronomic environments was 2,41 µg/kg, with a minimum of 0,82 µg/kg and a maximum of 4,87 µg/kg. Two hybrids reported values of AFB1 below 2,00 µg/kg fixed as maximum limit for direct human-use grain (European Commission, 2011). On the other hand, all hybrids showed an adequate hygienic health profile as feed material with a level of AFB1 contamination below 20 µg/kg (Table 2).No statistical significance was found in AFB1 accumulation.
Zearalenone – deoxynivalenol: considering the climatic condition during 2015, level of DON and ZEA have been found adequate to EU legislation limit. It has been noted that under stress conditions DON and ZEA levels are higher but within
the fixed limit (Table 2).With regard to the accumulation of DON and ZEA a statistical significance was found.There are ongoing analyzes of the distribution of different mycotoxins in the trial fields under study.
Yield (q/ha 15,5% u.m.) FBs (µg/Kg) ns AFB1 (µg/Kg) ns DON (µg/Kg) * ZEA (µg/Kg) * H1 123,28 4720,50 2,16 49,01 b 2,25 b H2 130,50 7792,09 3,65 40,08 b 1,72 b H3 124,81 5017,44 4,87 203,13 a 17,02 a H4 121,41 5399,34 1,21 20,67 b 0,95 b H5 124,57 5657,66 2,00 45,41 b 0,94 b H6 119,34 3946,16 0,82 19,29 b 0,84 b H7 117,27 3918,69 2,14 108,41 ab 3,08 b
Tab.2: Yield (q/ha 15,5% u.m.) and accumulation of different mycotoxins (µg/Kg) in 7selected hybrids Tab.2: Resa (q/ha 15,5% u.m.) e quantificazione delle diverse micotossine (µg/Kg) in 7 ibridi selezionati
Conclusions
The maize agronomic trials-varietals network was born until the mid-1990s in order to assess the potentiality and adaptability of different hybrids, both grain and forage.
To stakeholders it is a useful tool for the selection of maize the most suitable for cultivation in different environments. It provides: i) objective information on the performance of tested hybrids (production potential, adaptability to different crop environments, susceptibility to disease); ii) update data on varietal characterization; iii) reliable data due to the number of tested hybrids.
Over the past decade, with the spread of mycotoxins in Italian maize trade, safety of maize production has become increasingly important. Therefore, the determination of different mycotoxins in maize grain aims to assess the effect of the combination of the different agronomic techniques, in order to establish strategies to prevent their development.
Preliminary data showed that there are no significant differences regarding the accumulation of fumonisins and aflatoxin B1. Regarding DON and ZEA statistical significance has been observed in the distribution of seven hybrids.
Acknowledgments
The research was carried out within the RQC-Mais research project, funded by the Ministry of Food and Forestry Policies (MiPAAF, DD 88666 of 03/12/2014).
Special thanks to Gianfranco Mazzinelli, Maize agronomic trials varietal network coordinator.
References
European Commission, 2006. Commission Recommendation (EC) on the presence of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, T-2 and HT-2 and fumonisins in products intended for animal feeding. Official Journal of European Union 229:7-9.
European Commission, 2007. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1126/2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs as regards Fusarium toxins in maize and maize products. Official Journal of European Union 255:14–17.
European Commission, 2011. Commission Regulation (EC) No 574/2011 amending Annex I to Directive 2002/32/EC. Official Journal of European Union 159:7-24.
Mazzinelli G. et al. 2016. Prove agronomiche di ibridi di mais FAO 500, 600, 700. L’informatore Agrario n°3 5-21 Berardo N., C. Lanzanova, S. Locatelli, P. Laganà, A. Verderio and M. Motto, 2011. Levels of total fumonisins in maize samples from Italy during 2006–2008. Food Additives and Contaminants: Part B. 4, 116–124.
Reyneri A., Bruno G., D’Egidio M.G., Balconi C. (a cura di), 2015. Linee guida per il controllo delle micotossine nella granella di mais e frumento. Linee guida per il controllo delle micotossine nella granella di mais e frumento. Ministero delle politiche agricole, alimentari e forestali - Dip.to delle politiche competitive, della qualità agroalimentare, ippiche e della pesca - Piano cerealicolo nazionale, 2010.