VIEW ARTICLE

Weathered Grain Sorghum: Natural Occurrence of Alternariols and Storability of the Grain. L. M. Seitz, Research Chemist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Grain Marketing Research Center, Manhattan, Kansas 66502; D. B. Sauer(2), H. E. Mohr(3), and R. Burroughs(4). (2)(3)Research Plant Pathologist, and Physical Science Technician, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Grain Marketing Research Center, Manhattan, Kansas 66502; (4)Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506. Phytopathology 65:1259-1263. Accepted for publication 9 June 1975. . DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-65-1259.

Sorghum grain of several commercial hybrids from seven locations in Kansas was studied to determine natural occurrence of Alternaria metabolites, alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and alternariol (AOH), and to evaluate the storability of the grain. Amounts of AME and AOH found in the sorghums depended mainly on location and to a lesser extent on cultivar. Metabolite levels correlated with degree of grain discoloration and with number of rainy days during September and October. When sorghum was exposed to an adverse storage environment, grain which was weathered, discolored, heavily invaded by fungi, or even sprout-damaged, was no more susceptible to storage mold invasion than was clean, sound grain.