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Inheritance of Aflatoxin B₁ Levels in Maize Kernels under Modified Natural Inoculation with Aspergillus flavus¹

Several earlier studies on aflatoxin contamination in maize (Zea mays L.) have shown significant differences among genotypes, but the results have been difficult to repeat, probably due in part to a very large environment-by-genotype interaction resulting in large coefficients of variation. A second problem encountered has been lack of a suitable method of inoculation. A genetic study at the University of Missouri published in 1978 employing the pinboard method of inoculation showed significant differences among genotypes, and these results using the same genotypes were substantiated, in part, by a second study. These and later studies, however, did not provide comparative information on aflatoxin contamination by pinboard inoculation with Aspergillus flavus (Link ex Fries) and contamination in the absence of wounding of kernels. Twenty-one F₁ crosses of seven inbred lines of maize that had been used in two previous studies plus the seven parents, were planted in five environments in the southeastern USA where the likelihood of natural contamination by A. flavus would be high. Natural contamination was enhanced by spraying conidia of A. flavus on the silks at each environment. Aflatoxin contamination was observed to be highly significantly different among genotypes and environments. Mean aflatoxin B₁ levels ranged from a low of 54 µg kg^–1 at Knoxville, TN, to 1788 µg kg^–1 at Mississippi State, MS. The general combining ability mean square for aflatoxin B₁ was significant. Comparison of relative aflatoxin levels by inbred line means, F₁ crosses per se, or estimates of general combining ability effects obtained from the current study with results of pinboard inoculation showed negative relationships. The results showed that information on geneticontrol of aflatoxin contamination in maize obtained by kernel wounding using a pinboard and inoculation with A. flavus was not the same as that obtained in the absence of kernel wounding.

Key Words: Mycotoxin • Host-plant resistance • Zea mays L. • Inoculation methods

² Research geneticist, USDA-ARS, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211; research microbiologist, USDA-ARS, Southern Reg. Res. Ctr., New Orleans, LA 70179; professor emeritus, Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211; supervisory research agronomist, USDA-ARS, Mississippi State Univ., Mississippi State, MS 39762; formerly research agronomist (retired), USDA-ARS, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27607; associate professor, Dep. of Plant and Soil Sci., Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37901; research geneticist, USDA-ARS, Insect Biology and Pest Management Res. Lab., Tifton, GA 31793; and professor, Dep. of Plant Pathology, Pee Dee Exp. Stn., Florence, SC 29501, respectively.

Received for publication November 7, 1986.

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