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

Author

Listed:
  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Heltan M. Mwalugha & Krisztina Molnár & Csaba Rácz & Szilvia Kovács & Cintia Adácsi & Tamás Dövényi-Nagy & Károly Bakó & István Pócsi & Attila Dobos & Tünde Pusztahelyi, 2025. "Irrigation, Nitrogen Supplementation, and Climatic Conditions Affect Resistance to Aspergillus flavus Stress in Maize," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-34, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:7:p:767-:d:1626773
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. H J Van der Fels-Klerx & L C Vermeulen & A K Gavai & C Liu, 2019. "Climate change impacts on aflatoxin B 1 in maize and aflatoxin M 1 in milk: A case study of maize grown in Eastern Europe and imported to the Netherlands," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-14, June.
    2. Cintia Adácsi & Szilvia Kovács & István Pócsi & Zoltán Győri & Zsuzsanna Dombrádi & Tünde Pusztahelyi, 2022. "Microbiological and Toxicological Evaluation of Fermented Forages," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-11, March.
    3. Jingming Qian & Shujiang Miao & Nigel Tapper & Jianguang Xie & Greg Ingleton, 2020. "Investigation on Airport Landscape Cooling Associated with Irrigation: A Case Study of Adelaide Airport, Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-16, October.
    4. László Huzsvai & Csaba Juhász & Loujaine Seddik & Györgyi Kovács & József Zsembeli, 2024. "The Future Probability of Winter Wheat and Maize Yield Failure in Hungary Based on Long-Term Temporal Patterns," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-17, May.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    maize; plant physiology; irrigation; nitrogen; aflatoxin B1; Aspergillus flavus ; climate change;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B1 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925

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