Aflatoxin Production and Fungal Growth on Single Cross Corn Hybrids Inoculated with Aspergillus flavus

Abstract

A water suspension of A. flavus conidia was introduced to exposed corn silks, placed in contact with nondamaged seeds, and forcefully injected into 1 and 3 seeds per ear of 6 corn hybrids 4 times at 3-wk intervals from the time silks first appeared. Fungal infection occurred on and aflatoxin was recovered from all 6 hybrids, but only where inoculum was forcefully injected into seeds. Maximum fungal infection occurred during mid-growing season when ears were inoculated in the late milk- to early dough stage. The extent of fungal infection did not vary among the 6 hybrids following inoculation at any given stage of development; however, toxin production varied significantly among the hybrids.