Early Appearance of Aflatoxin in Developing Corn Kernels After Inoculation withAspergillus flavus

Abstract

Developing kernels of corn (Z. mays) Gaspe .times. W103 were inoculated with A. flavus grown in 4 postinoculation regimes, harvested at weekly intervals 2-37 days after inoculation and assayed for aflatoxin B1. Aflatoxin B1 levels averaged 238 ppb 2 days after inoculation and 2482 ppb for all other dates. Aflatoxin levels were near maximum 9 days after inoculation and accumulation were minimal after that time. There was no evidence of a temperature effect in the range of 13.5.degree.-21.5.degree. C thermal U/day.