Irrigation, Nitrogen Supplementation, and Climatic Conditions Affect Resistance to Aspergillus flavus Stress in Maize

Heltan M. Mwalugha, Krisztina Molnár, Csaba Rácz, Szilvia Kovács, Cintia Adácsi, Tamás Dövényi-Nagy, Károly Bakó, István Pócsi, Attila Dobos and Tünde Pusztahelyi ()
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Heltan M. Mwalugha: Doctoral School of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Krisztina Molnár: Centre for Precision Farming R&D Services, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Csaba Rácz: Centre for Precision Farming R&D Services, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Szilvia Kovács: Food and Environmental Toxicology Research Group, Central Laboratory of Agricultural and Food Products, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Cintia Adácsi: Food and Environmental Toxicology Research Group, Central Laboratory of Agricultural and Food Products, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Tamás Dövényi-Nagy: Centre for Precision Farming R&D Services, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Károly Bakó: Centre for Precision Farming R&D Services, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
István Pócsi: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Attila Dobos: Centre for Precision Farming R&D Services, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Tünde Pusztahelyi: Food and Environmental Toxicology Research Group, Central Laboratory of Agricultural and Food Products, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-34

Abstract: Maize production is increasingly challenged by climate change, which affects plant physiology, fungal colonization, and mycotoxin contamination. Aspergillus flavus , a saprophytic fungus, thrives in warm, dry conditions, leading to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) accumulation, and posing significant food safety risks. Macro- and micro-climatic factors, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation, influence kernel development, leaf wetness duration, and mycotoxin biosynthesis. Nitrogen availability and irrigation play crucial roles in modulating plant responses to these stressors, affecting chlorophyll content, yield parameters, and fungal interactions. To investigate these interactions, a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was employed from 2020 to 2022 to assess physiological changes in SY Orpheus maize hybrid under varying climatic conditions. Rising temperatures and declining relative humidity (RH) significantly reduced kernel number per ear length from 25.60 ± 0.34 in 2020 to 17.89 ± 0.39 in 2022 ( p < 0.05), impacting yield. The AFB1 levels peaked in 2021 (156.88 ± 59.02 µg/kg), coinciding with lower humidity and increased fungal stress. Water availability improved kernel numbers and reduced AFB1 accumulation ( p < 0.05) but did not significantly affect the total fungal load ( p > 0.05). Nitrogen supplementation enhanced plant vigor, suppressed AFB1 biosynthesis, and influenced spectral indices. Potential confounding factors such as soil variability and microbial interactions may require further investigations.

Keywords: maize; plant physiology; irrigation; nitrogen; aflatoxin B1; Aspergillus flavus; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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