Fifty three samples of four varieties of maize were obtained from 18 storage facilities in Zaria and its environs, all within Kaduna State, Nigeria and plated directly on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Samples which yielded Fusarium species were further tested for the presence of toxins. Seven samples yielded fumonisins alone, while both fumonisins and deoxynivalenol (DON) were found in three samples corresponding to 18.87% toxin contamination rate. Fusarium verticilloides was found to be the most toxigenic species occurring in eight toxin-contaminated samples while Fusarium proliferatum occurred only once. Three samples had fumonisin content above the 5 ppm threshold value while the other samples did not exceed the 1 ppm upper limit for DON. Fusarium contamination of grains used in industrial productions exists and thus there is the need for regulations guiding the storage and industrial utilisation of maize to minimize the risk of mycotoxicoses in humans and animals. 

 

Key words: Fumonisins, deoxynivalenol, stored maize, Fusarium, Zaria, mycotoxin, contamination, industrial 

productions