Organic vs conventional farming: Differences in infection by mycotoxin-producing fungi on maize and wheat in Northern and Central Italy

This study aimed to monitor the main toxigenic fungi in neighbouring organic and conventional maize and wheat fields in Italy in 2010 and 2011. The Fusarium species mainly isolated were: Fusarium poae, sometimes predominant on Fusarium graminearum in wheat, and Fusarium verticillioides competing with Fusarium proliferatum and Fusarium subglutinans in maize. The incidence of Fusarium spp. was similar for both conventional (6%) and organic (4%) wheat, but it was influenced by weather conditions. 2010 was the most favourable for Fusarium species, with 10 times the incidence of 2011. Fusarium infection was significantly different between farming systems in maize (20% vs 35% in conventional and organic, respectively), while in 2010 the incidence was significantly higher than in 2011 (43% vs 25%). Aspergillus and Penicillium incidence was not linked to the farming system but to weather conditions, with moderately higher incidence in 2010.