Concurrent Infection of Individual Corn Kernels with White and Green Isolates of Aspergillus flavus. Natale Zummo, USDA-ARS, Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Science, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762. Plant Dis. 75:910-913. Accepted for publication 6 March 1991. 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, 1991. DOI: 10.1094/PD-75-0910.
 

When ears of maize (Zea mays) were needle-inoculated in the field with a white conidial isolate of Aspergillus flavus at 2 days after midsilk, then reinoculated 4 days later with a green conidial isolate of the fungus, both isolates could be recovered from individual kernels. Both isolates also were recovered from individual kernels from reciprocally inoculated ears. Percentage of kernel infection with the green conidial isolate was higher overall than that with the white isolate in tests over a 3-yr period. Inoculation of ears first with the white isolate, then with the green isolate reduced the amount of infection obtained with the green isolate, whereas inoculation first with the green isolate, then with the white isolate did not influence the amount of infection obtained with the green isolate. Time of inoculation with the green isolate did not influence kernel infection with the white isolate. Percentage of infection was higher after inoculation with both isolates than after inoculation with a single isolate. Individual isolates or both isolates could be recovered from the same kernel or from separate, transversely cut kernel segments. The white isolate was recovered from significantly more center kernel segments than from other segments. Recovery of both fungal isolates from segments from most regions of the kernel supports earlier findings that A. flavus infects kernels mainly through the pericarp.