The European Corn Borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), as a Vector of Aflatoxigenic and Ochratoxigenic Fungi

Kukuruzni moljac (Ostrinia nubilalis, Hubner, 1796.) je uz kukuruznu zlaticu (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, LeConte, 1868.) gospodarski najznačajniji štetnik kukuruza. Gusjenica kukuruznog moljca izgriza list, buši stabljiku i smanjuje joj čvrstoću. Osim navedenih direktnih šteta od gusjenica, indirektne čine i odrasle jedinke prenoseći spore mikotoksigenih gljivica. Mikotoksini su sekundarni metaboliti koje gljivice sintetiziraju tijekom rasta na određenim supstratima. Oni, mogu biti uzročnici različitih bolesti kod ljudi i životinja najčešće putem hrane. Najistaknutiji mikotoksini su aflatoksin B1 i okratoksin A. Istraživanje je provedeno u cilju utvrđivanja potencijala leptira kukuruznog moljca da prenosi spore mikotoksigenih gljivica. Tijekom dvije vegetacije 2021. i 2022. u pokusnom polju Instituta u Osijeku, lovnom lampom u kukuruzištu su uhvaćeni leptiri. U laboratoriju su isprani s 1ml destilirane vode. Uzorak isprane vode za svaku jedinku leptira je nanesen na hranjivu podlogu. Nakon inkubacije razvijene kulture gljivica su podvrgnute morfološkoj determinaciji prema dostupnim ključevima. Tijekom istraživanja determinirani su rodovi Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Trichoderma spp. i Fusarium spp. Uzorci čistih kultura nakon presađivanja dokazano pozitivni na aflatoksin B1 i okratoksin A determinirani su do rodova: Aspergillus spp. i Penicillium spp. U istraživanju je dokazano je da je kukuruzni moljac prijenosnik spora mikotoksigenih gljivica. The european corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner, 1796.) (ECB) is with western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, Leconte, 1868.) (WCR) economicly the most significant corn pest. The ECB catapillar cause bites off leaves, drills through stem and weakens its firmness. Other than the mentioned primary damages, indirectly the adult individuals cause damage by carring the spores of mycotoxigenetic fungi. Mycotoxins are secundary metabolits which fungi synthesize during growth on specific substrate. They, can be the cause of different diseases on people and animals mostly by food. The most significant mycotoxings are aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A. The research has been done in the purpose of determening the ECB butterfly potential of carring the spores of mycotoxigenetic fungi. During two growing seasons, 2021. and 2022. in the experimental field of Institute of Osijek the butterflys were caught in corn fields with light traps. In laboratory they were rinsed with 1ml destilled water. The sample of rinsed water from every individual were inflicted on nutritious base. After incubation the developed fungi were submitted to morphological determination according to available keys. During research the following genus were determened: Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Trichoderma spp. and Fusarium spp. The samples of pure cultures, after the determination, were proven to be positive on aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A. The positive samples belonged to the genus Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. Transplanting the fungi of mentioned genus on nutritios base MEA (Malt extract agar), their extraction and finally by liquid chromatography, it is proven that the ECB is a carrier of mycotoxigenetic fungi.