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Insect Damage, Aspergillus flavus Ear Mold, and Aflatoxin Contamination in South Georgia Corn Fields in 1977¹

ABSTRACT

A survey of preharvest corn (Zea mays L.) in 31 counties in the Coastal Plain Region of Georgia suggested that ears molded by Aspergillus spp. of the Aspergillus flavus group and ears damaged by insects were widespread in about 810,000 ha (2 mllion acres) of corn grown in the area. Ninety percent of the field-collected samples contained aflatoxin in excess of 20 µg/kg. Averagear damage by insects ranged from a low of 1.4 cm to a high of 8.9 cm. Highly significant correlations were found between insect damage and percentage of ears with visible A. flavus ear mold, between insect damage and aflatoxin contamination, and between percentage of ears with visible A. flavus ear mold and aflatoxin contamination.

Key Words: fungus • toxin • injury • Zea mays • corn earworm • fall armyworm • survey

¹ Contribution of the USDA, SEA, in cooperation with the Univ. of Georgia College of Agric. Exp. Stn., Tifton, GA 31794.

² Research Entomologist, USDA, SEA, Southern Grain Insects Res. Lab., Tifton, GA 31794; Plant Pathologist, Univ. of Georgia, Coastal Plain Exp. Stn., Tifton; and Research Geneticist, USDA, SEA, Southern Grain Insects Res. Lab., Tifton, respectively.

Received for publication February 10, 1978.