Production of Aflatoxin in Wounded and Whole Maize Kernels by Aspergillus flavus. J. R. Wallin, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA, ARS, and Professor, Plant Pathology, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211. Plant Dis. 70:429-430. Accepted for publication 8 October 1985. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1986. DOI: 10.1094/PD-70-429.

Wounded and nonwounded kernels of four inbred lines of maize were inoculated with Aspergillus flavus and were washed or not washed. The kernels and wash water were analyzed for aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) content. Inbred lines N141 and Mo17Ht had the highest levels of AFB₁ for the nonwashed, wounded treatment, whereas inbred lines Oh3A and Mo20W had the lowest. The nonwashed, wounded treatment yielded significantly more aflatoxin than other treatments, and the washed, whole kernels produced the least AFB₁. AFB₁ from the wounded series external mycelium was the highest for inbred N141 (1,238 ppb). For the whole-kernel series, the external contamination was also greatest for N141 (1,059 ppb). AFB₁ in the wash water from N141 and Mo17Ht was significantly greater than from the liquid from Mo20W and Oh3A. Aflatoxin content of the wash water from the kernel surface was low, indicating that the toxin was probably lost in the evaporation of the wash water and was not recovered in the analytical process.