The mycoflora and some mycotoxins found in maize (Zea mays) in the Plateau State of Nigeria.

Mouldy maize samples were collected at three periods of the year (Dry harmattan period, November-February; hot and dry period, March-May; and hot humid and wet period, June-September) from local government areas of Plateau State of Nigeria. They were screened for their mycoflora, aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and zearalenone contents. Fusarium spp were the commonest fungi found in maize during the dry harmattan and hot and dry periods and Neurospora spp were the commonest fungi found during the hot, humid and wet period. The highest level of aflatoxin was found in samples from Langtang (B1 = 960, B2 = 544 micrograms/kg) and the highest level of zearalenone was found in samples from Jos and Langtang areas (17,500 micrograms/kg). The highest level of ochratoxin was found in the field samples from the Jos area (150 micrograms/kg).