Warm and humid subtropical and tropical conditions in maize ears are ideal conditions for colonization and dominance of A. flavus/parasiticus species
Delayed harvest, late irrigation and rain and dew during warm periods Crops receiving over 50 mm of rain during boll opening (Cotty and Jaime-Garcia 2007)
Require relatively high moisture content
Harvesting of crops under high moisture conditions and the storage of contaminated foodstuffs under damp conditions favours the production of ochratoxins (Birzele et al. 2000).
Maize grown in temperate regions is an appropriate substrate for F. Liseola colonization and production of fumonisins. F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum are the two main species from this group with the capacity to produce these mycotoxins (Chulze et al. 1996).
A humid tropical climate promotes microbial proliferation on food and feedstuffs and thus mycotoxin biosynthesis (Nuryono et al. 2005).
Temperature in particular plays an important role in Fusarium species, from the infection of wheat heads to the production and dispersal of inocula: small changes in temperature may subsequently influence the incidence and severity of disease.
Generally formed after harvest and can be found mainly in stored grains especially barley, wheat and rice, but also in other plant products such as beans, fruits, fruit and vegetable juices, herbs and spices, and also in spoiled dairy products (Braunberg 1994).
