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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #246440
Title: Spatial distribution of aflatoxin contamination in relation to damage by ear-feeding insects in pre-harvest corn

Author
item Ni, Xinzhi
item Wilson, Jeffrey - Jeff
item Krakowsky, Matthew
item Guo, Baozhu
item Scully, Brian
item BUNTIN, G. DAVID - University Of Georgia
item LEE, R. DEWEY - University Of Georgia
item Cottrell, Ted

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/27/2009
Publication Date: 10/27/2009
Citation: Ni, X. Wilson, J.P. Krakowsky, M.D. Guo, B. Scully B.T. Buntin, G.D. Lee, R.D. Cottrell, T.E. 2009. Spatial distribution of aflatoxin contamination in relation to damage by ear-feeding insects in pre-harvest corn. Proceedings of the Workshop on Reducing Aflatoxin Contamination in Corn, October 27-28, 2009, Mississippi State, MS.

Interpretive Summary: not required

Technical Abstract: Key impediments to corn yield and quality in the southeastern coastal plain region are debatably aflatoxin contamination and damage by ear-feeding insects. The key ear-feeding insects are the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, and the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say). In 2007, aflatoxin contamination and insect damage was sampled prior to harvest in three 1/6-hectare fields using a 9x9-m grid sampling method. The feeding damage by each of ear/kernel-feeding insects (i.e., corn earworm damage on corn cob, discoloration of corn kernels by stink bugs, and maize weevil damaged corn kernels) was assessed a 9x9 m grid-sampling of the corn fields. The spatial distribution pattern of aflatoxin contamination was also assessed using the corn samples collected at the last sampling date. The variation in aflatoxin contamination among the grid-sampling points and among the three fields was compared. The roles of both chewing and piercing-sucking insect feeding in aflatoxin contamination of corn kernels will also be discussed.