Influence of plant density on toxigenic fungal and mycotoxin contamination of maize grains

Field trials were set up in the Belgrade area (Serbia) in 2013 and 2014 to determine the effect of plant density on the natural incidence of potentially toxigenic fungi and the level of mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins (FBs) in two Serbian maize hybrids of the FAO maturity group 700 (ZP 735 and NS Zenit). Three plant density treatments, namely, 55,000 plants ha−1 (PD1), 64,000 plants ha−1 (PD2) and 75,000 plants ha−1 (PD3), were evaluated.