Dry Matter Loss in Yellow Dent Corn Resulting from Invasion by Storage Fungi. C. M. Christensen, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108. R. A. Meronuck, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108. Plant Dis. 73:501-503. Accepted for publication 28 February 1989. Copyright 1989 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-73-0501.

Samples of high-temperature-dried yellow dent corn stored in the laboratory at moisture contents of 14.5–19.5% suffered increasing invasion by storage fungi, increasing loss in dry matter, and an increasing percentage of damaged (brown to black) germs with increasing moisture content and increasing time of storage. Invasion of the germs by storage fungi (especially Aspergillus glaucus) preceded any detectable weight loss and change in germ color. By the time the dry matter loss had reached 0.5–1.0% the germs of the corn kernels had been extensively invaded by storage fungi.