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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2007 Publication Date: 2/8/2007 Citation: Dowd, P.F. 2007. Mycotoxin management studies by USDA Crop Bioprotection in 2006 [abstract]. Abstract No. 6. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Studies included several popcorn fields in 2006 in order to continue testing previously developed management strategies for mycotoxins in field corn, on popcorn. Weather conditions that potentially promoted the formation of aflatoxin in corn were not as severe. The computer program predicted that the aflatoxin-producing fungus could be present at silking. Low levels were predicted to be present at harvest in a few fields. Aflatoxin was found in one sample from one popcorn field (but was below 20 ppb). Conditions that could promote fumonisin occurred, and insect damage was high during later ear fill, except for Bt lines. Earlier planted corn escaped most insect ear damage by caterpillars, thanks to birds cleaning off corn earworms that occurred in silks. A late infestation of corn borers occurred, which appeared to affect fumonisin levels in later maturing corn. Ineffectiveness of trapping continues to be a problem in early detection of corn borer moths. A Bt line had much lower levels of fumonisin compared to the non-Bt isogenic line. Stink bugs apparently increased fumonisin levels in some fields, which is normally uncommon. Fumonisin levels were predicted to be low to moderate based on rain data from Imperial Valley gauges and temperature data from Lincoln, and predictions were relatively accurate for most fields. Data from this year suggested that popcorn has a narrower window of susceptibility to fungi that produce fumonisin compared to field corn. DON occurred in some fields, but levels were very low. |
