Utjecaj padalina na pojavnost mikotoksina u hrvatskim žitaricama u periodu 2012-2015

Recent years have seen a lot of attention given to mycotoxins, secondary metabolites of molds with toxic effects in humans and other animals. Climate change is one of the main causes of changes in worldwide occurrence of mycotoxins. In addition to increases of temperature and CO2 levels, rainfall is one of the main factors that affect mould growth. Timing, amount, type and intensity of rainfall influence which moulds will develop on crops, in turn deciding the composition of produced mycotoxins. Dry weather conditions favor growth of Aspergillus species, mainly responsible for aflatoxin production. Increased aflatoxin occurrence was observed in Croatia during 2012 and 2013 due to the below average rainfall during flowering of maize, a period when it is most susceptible to mold contamination. Croatian regions which are the greatest producers of maize were stricken by severe drought. Conversely, higher humidity and rainfall during flowering of cereals and harvesting season escalate occurrence of Fusarium species, known producers of trichothecene mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 & HT-2 toxins, as well as zearalenone, fumonisins, etc. This scenario with increased rainfall and DON occurrence in cereals was recorded during 2014.