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Postharvest Pathology and Mycotoxins

Effect of Pesticides on Zearalenone Production in Culture and in Corn Plants. F. A. Draughon, Associate professor, Department of Food Technology and Science, The University of Tennessee, P.O. Box 1071, Knoxville 37901-1071; D. C. Churchville, research assistant, Department of Food Technology and Science, The University of Tennessee, P.O. Box 1071, Knoxville 37901-1071. Phytopathology 75:553-556. Accepted for publication 26 November 1984. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-75-553.

The effect of pesticides on production of zearalenone by Fusarium roseum var. graminearum was studied. In potato-dextrose broth, pesticides at 100 ppm inhibited mycelial growth as follows: 56% by fonofos, 35% by EPN, 42% by toxaphene, 49% by heptachlor, 33% by fensulfothion, 69% by metalkamate, 71% by carbaryl, 78% by maneb, and 100% by naled. When pesticides were added to flasks containing autoclaved corn kernels and inoculated with F. roseum, zearalenone production was inhibited by 100 ppm of pesticide as follows: 90% by fonofos, 77% by metalkamate, 100% by maneb, 69% by fensulfothion, 93% by EPN, 94% by carbaryl, 97% by carbofuran, and 100% by naled. Corn inoculated with F. roseum while in the field and treated with fonofos, carbaryl or maneb after silking showed a significant reduction in zearalenone production.