Evaluation of Field Inoculation Techniques for Screening Maize Genotypes Against Kernel Infection by Aspergillus flavus in Mississippi. Natale Zummo, USDA-ARS and Mississippi State Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State, MS 39762. G. E. Scott, USDA-ARS and Mississippi State Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Plant Dis. 73:313-316. Accepted for publication 10 November 1988. 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, 1989. DOI: 10.1094/PD-73-0313.

Five inoculation techniques—needle application of inoculum through the silk channel, needle application of inoculum through the husks onto the kernels, toothpick in the ear, toothpick in the silk channel, and string around the silks—were compared with pinbar inoculation for screening maize genotypes against kernel infection by Aspergillus flavus in the field. The pinbar inoculation technique generally resulted in higher kernel infection levels than the other inoculation methods but had the disadvantage that some kernels on the ear were injured and hand-shelling of kernels for assay was required. The needle in the silk channel and the needle through the husks produced approximately equal levels of kernel infection without injury to ears or kernels and separated resistant and susceptible maize genotypes. The toothpick in the ear, toothpick in the silk channel, and string around the silk inoculations resulted in significantly less kernel infection than the pinbar and needle inoculations. Increasing conidial concentration in the needle inoculations resulted in greater kernel infection. These studies showed that maize genotypes can be screened in the field for resistance to kernel infection by A. flavus using the pinbar, side needle through the husks, and needle in the silk channel inoculation techniques.