Effects of Postharvest Oil and Fungicide Application on Storage Fungi in Corn Following High-Temperature Grain Drying. D. G. WHITE, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801. J. TOMAN, JR., Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801. Plant Dis. 78:38-43. Accepted for publication 11 September 1993. Copyright 1994 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-78-0038.

Three experiments compared the efficacy of the fungicides thiabendazole or iprodione with a water carrier before or after drying, and with an oil carrier at dust-control rate before drying for control of storage fungi. A fourth experiment compared the efficacy of thiabendazole applied in water, degummed soybean oil, food-grade soybean oil, or white mineral oil carrier before grain drying, and measured the efficacy of each oil without fungicide. After high-temperature drying, grain was stored for 40-42 wk in modified grain bins. The incidence of storage fungi was determined following plating of kernels on malt salt agar. All fungicide treatments reduced the incidence of Penicillium and Aspergillus spp. when compared to non-fungicide-treated controls. All three oils alone also reduced the incidence of Penicillium and Aspergillus spp. compared to the untreated sample. The control of storage fungi resulted in fewer damaged kernels as determined by a licensed federal grain inspector. The best control of storage fungi was achieved by the application of fungicide in oil rather than in a water carrier. Results indicate that fungicides applied in a soybean or mineral oil carrier prior to high-temperature drying can be integrated with currently used storage fungi control techniques, thus allowing for maintenance of quality grain

Keyword(s): maize, Zea mays