Premium
Evaluation of Commercial and Experimental Three‐Way Corn Hybrids for Aflatoxin B 1 Production Potential 1
Author(s) -
Widstrom N. W.,
Wiseman B. R.,
McMillian W. W.,
Kwolek W. F.,
Lillehoj E. B.,
Jellum M. D.,
Massey J. H.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1978.00021962007000060023x
Subject(s) - aflatoxin , aspergillus flavus , preharvest , biology , mycotoxin , agronomy , zea mays , tifton , hybrid , aspergillus parasiticus , horticulture , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , dry matter , postharvest
Climatic conditions in the southeastern U.S. frequently favor infection by Aspergillus flavus Link ex Fr. and subsequent aflatoxin production on preharvest corn ( Zea mays L.). Plant resistance to infection and toxin development in corn may be an important factor in reducing toxin levels. Ten full‐season and 10 short to mid‐season commercial corn hybrids from three locations in the Coastal Plain Region of Georgia were evaluated for aflatoxin concentration from natural infection by Aspergillus spp. over a 3‐year period. A higher incidence of aflatoxin positives and higher concentrations of toxin occurred at the Tifton, Georgia, location than at the Plains or Midville locations. Corn from plots infested with corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), had higher levels of toxin contamination than samples from noninfested plots. Significant differences for aflatoxin concentration occurred among the commercial hybrids sampled, but differences were not detected among dent or sweet corn inbreds tested as three‐way crosses. The lack of differences was generally attributed to insufficient replication and the possibility that the common single‐cross tester(s) had an extraordinary influence on aflatoxin production potential. Evaluation and selection for plant resistance to infection by A. flavus and aflatoxin production will probably be difficult.