In northern Italy, the most frequently occurring class of mycotoxins in maize are fumonisins, mainly
those produced by Fusarium verticillioides. Currently, good agricultural practices (GAPs) represent the
best line of defense for controlling the contamination of maize by Fusarium-toxins. Annual fluctuations in
weather conditions can strongly reduce the advantages conferred by GAPs, and thus integration with
biological control strategies can be a sustainable way to achieve reliable control of Fusarium colonization
and toxin contamination. Trichoderma harzianum is a good biocontrol agent against a wide range of plant
pathogens, and previous studies have reported its ability to reduce F. verticillioides colonization under
greenhouse conditions. Field trials were conducted in two locations to assess the effect of seed treatment
with T. harzianum strain T22 on F. verticillioides kernel colonization and on fumonisin contamination
under various natural conditions. An average reduction of 58% in fungal infestation and 53% in mycotoxin
contamination was observed during our three-year experiments. This research suggests that seed biopriming
with T. harzianum T22 can be a promising and environmentally friendly way to control
F. verticillioides kernel colonization and fumonisin accumulation.