Presence of Alternaria toxins in maize from Republic of Serbia during 2016–2017

The aim of this study was to apply modern analytical tools, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method (LC-MS/MS), for identification and quantitation of Alternaria metabolites in maize samples. Maize samples were collected from the main maize-producing regions (Bačka, Banat, and Srem) of the Republic of Serbia during two harvest seasons (2016 and 2017). The most commonly detected Alternaria toxin in maize samples from both years was tenuazonic acid. On the other hand, determined mean concentrations of quantified tenuazonic acid were significantly higher in maize samples from Banat from both maize growing seasons in comparison to its concentrations in maize samples from Bačka and Srem. As a consequence of influence of microclimate conditions in investigated regions, the highest percentages of contaminated maize samples by Alternaria toxins, in both the years 2016 and 2017, were 48% and 47%, respectively from Srem, while the lowest percentages of 29% and 23%, respectively were found in Bačka. Novelty impact statement The main novelty of this study is achieved through increased knowledge and creation of one of the few database from this part of Europe regarding the frequencies of occurrence of “emerging” Alternaria toxins in maize, depending on weather conditions and some of the applied agrotechnical measures during a two-year period.