Mycotoxin prevention and decontamination – a case study on maize

Numerous reviews and publications have summarized the approaches already in use and being developed to minimize mycotoxin contamination of maize (Agricultural Research Service, 1997a and 1997b; CAST, 1989; Robens, 1990; Jackson, DeVries and Bullerman, 1996; Sinha and Bhatnagar, 1998; Scott, 1998). Many of the strategies used for other commodities can generally also be applied to maize (McMullen, Jones and Gallenberg, 1997). In this article, “prevention of mycotoxin production in maize” encompasses prevention of toxin biosynthesis and metabolism in the field (pre-harvest) or in storage (postharvest). “Mycotoxin detoxification” refers only to postharvest treatments designed to remove, destroy (decontaminate) and ultimately reduce the toxic effects of mycotoxins (detoxify). The potential ability of a plant to detoxify mycotoxins in situ is treated as a prevention strategy.