___________________________ Corresponding author: Milica Nikolic, Maize Research Institute, Zemun Polje, Slobodana Bajića 1, 11185 Belgrade, Serbia,E-mail: mnikolic@mrizp.rs phone number: +381648406456 UDC 575 https://doi.org/10.2298/GENSR1801143N Original scientific paper DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN Aspergillus flavus AND Aspergillus parasiticus ISOLATES ORIGINATED FROM WHEAT Milica NIKOLIC 1 , Ana NIKOLIC 1 , Marko JAUKOVIC 2 , Iva SAVIC 1 , Tanja PETROVIC 1 , Ferenc BAGI 3 , Slavica STANKOVIC 1 1 Maize Research Institute, Zemun Polje, Belgrade, Serbia 2 JV Jugoinspekt Beograd, Belgrade, Serbia 3 Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia Nikolic M., A. Nikolic, M. Jaukovic, I. Savic, T. Petrovic, F. Bagi, S. Stankovic (2018): Differentiation between Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus isolates originated from wheat.- Genetika, Vol 50, No.1, 143-152. The species of the genus Aspergillus, A. flavus and A. parasiticus, are the most aflatoxin-producing fungi. All previous studies carried out under the production conditions of Serbia showed no presence of A. parasiticus on wheat kernel. On the basis of changes in climatic factors, such as occurrence of high temperatures and prolonged droughts, which favour increased frequency of Aspergillus spp., we assumed that this pathogen can also be present in Serbia. The significance of direct losses as a consequence of wheat kernel infection, as well as potential contamination with aflatoxins, have pointed out to the need to determine the presence of toxigenic potential of A. flavus and A. parasiticus isolates originating from Serbia. For that purpose, wheat kernel samples were collected in nine locations. According to morphological, toxicological and molecular traits of isolated fungi, the presence of A. flavus and A. parasiticus was confirmed. This is the first time that A. parasiticus was identified on wheat under climatic conditions in Serbia. This study indicates that these pathogens may be a potential danger in wheat production in the region of Serbia. This danger will be much more certain if global climatic changes continue as they will provide more intensive development of these pathogens. Key words: aflatoxins, Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, wheat INTRODUCTION Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced mainly by fungal species Aspergillus flavus Link and Aspergillus parasiticus Speare, common saprophytes and opportunistic pathogens. These pathogens appear considerably in the tropical and semi-tropical regions on many agricultural