BACKGROUND: During production and handling, maize is attacked by many Fusarium species, some of which are prolific producers of fumonisins. Contamination of maize with fumonisins is influenced by climate, agronomic and postharvest practices. This study investigated the factors associated with the occurrence of fumonisins in maize produced in three agroecological zones of Uganda.|RESULTS: All the maize samples were positive for fumonisins with levels ranging from 0.27 to 10 mg kg-1. A positive and significant correlation (P < 0.01) was observed between fumonisin levels and agroecological zone. Maize from high altitude zone had significantly higher (P < 0.05) mean total fumonisin content (4.93 mg kg-1) than maize from the mid altitude-moist (4.53mg kg-1) and mid altitude-dry (4.50 mg kg-1) zones. Five farmer practices, namely intercropping, crop rotation, delayed harvesting, dryingmaize on bare ground and planting treated seedswere significantly associated with fumonisin production in maize. Intercropping, delayed harvesting and drying maize on bare ground increased fumonisin contamination whereas crop rotation and planting treated seeds reduced the contamination.|CONCLUSION: All maize samples obtained from the three agroecological zones were contaminated with fumonisins. The study showed that some of the farmers' practices predispose maize to fumonisin contamination. The findings are important for future studies aimed at designing strategies to control and prevent contamination ofmaize with fumonisins.

English

Carelia Juarez

Reprints Collection