Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate whether, in the context of a higher incidence of Ustilago maydis and Fusarium spp. at optimal and delayed harvest times, a higher incidence of mycotoxin contamination in maize grains could be expected. The field experiment was carried out at the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry experimental fields over three consecutive years (2020-2022). Two maize hybrids (Duxxbury and Lapriora) with different FAO numbers were used. The experimental design in the field was a randomized complete block design. Harvesting took place at three different times: first at physiological maturity, and then 10 (±2) and 20 (±2) days after the first harvest. Each hybrid had four repetitions at different harvest times. The U. maydis infection was only detected in 2021 and after the first harvest cobs were further divided into four different groups with four repetitions: healthy cobs, cobs visually infected with Fusarium spp., cobs visually infected with common smut, and cobs visually infected with both pathogens. No U. maydis-damaged maize cobs were found in 2020 and 2022. The levels of Fusarium microscopic fungi in maize grains were also from 4 to 16 times higher in 2021 than in 2020 and 2022. Harvest delays in 2020 led to a significant deoxynivalenol concentration increase in the Duxxbury hybrid and an HT-2 concentration increase in the Lapriora hybrid. In 2021, deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, and HT-2 concentrations significantly rose in both hybrids, but the T-2 concentration significantly increased only in the Lapriora hybrid. Deoxynivalenol concentrations were, respectively, 110 and 14.6 times higher than in cobs only infected with Fusarium spp. or U. maydis. Concentrations of 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol were, respectively, 60, 67, and 43 times higher than in asymptomatic cobs and cobs only infected with Fusarium spp. or U. maydis. Cobs contaminated with both pathogens also had higher concentrations of 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol. T-2 and HT-2 were detected in maize grains harvested from cobs infected only with Fusarium spp. The presence of U. maydis and Fusarium fungi in maize cobs, along with harvest delays, led to significant increases in mycotoxin concentrations, highlighting the importance of timely harvesting and pathogen management to mitigate mycotoxin contamination in maize grains.