Abstract:
Aflatoxins (AFS) are carcinogenic and highly toxic compounds produced by Aspergillus
species. Food and feed contaminated with AFS pose a high risk to human and animal health.
In terms of the Republic of Serbia, the main concern is related to the prevalence of AFS in
maize. Serbia represents a leader in maize production and exports in Europe, and it is among
the top 10 exporters in the world. In the recent years maize yield as well as quality and safety
are strongly affected by weather conditions.
This report aimed to present AFS occurrence in harvested maize samples from Serbia in the
ten years (2012-2021). Maize samples were collected from maize growing seasons which
were characterized by extreme drought (2012), hot and dry conditions (2013, 2015, 2017,
2021), extreme precipitation (2014), and weather conditions usual for a moderate-continental
climate (2016, 2018, 2020). The highest AFS concentrations, as well as contamination
frequency of AFS were detected in maize samples originating from the 2012 maize growing
season, followed by 2015, 2021, 2013, and 2017. On the other hand, in samples originating
from 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020, there were no AFS detected. The obtained results
indicate that changes in weather conditions, recorded in the period of ten years, had a
significant influence on the presence or absence of AFS in maize. They were detected in
samples from five among ten investigated years, and in all contaminated samples, from each
year, aflatoxin B1 was the most dominant.
In the period of ten investigated years, Serbia was faced with climate changes which had a
great overall impact on the prevalence of AFS in maize. The findings of this report as well as
climate change prediction for South-East Europe indicate that maize from Serbia may
become susceptible to problems concerning AFS and therefore there is a need for Serbia to
enhance the control strategy of maize as well as maize management practices which would
greatly contribute to improving the quality and safety of food and feed.
