Author
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TOEWS, M - University Of Georgia |
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Ni, Xinzhi |
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Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2013 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: not required Technical Abstract: Southeastern corn producers are challenged by a hot and humid production climate that fosters growth of insect pests and aflatoxin in the field and in storage. Aflatoxin contamination in corn has been a serious problem for decades and is likely to increase with weather extremes caused by global climate change and increasing corn acreage in arid production zones. Our previous experiments demonstrated that stink bug damage and aflatoxin infection are often highly aggregated around the edges of corn fields. We hypothesized that minimizing stink bug infestation and segregating stored grain from the edges of the field during storage may substantially improve overall grain quality, storability, and potential for stored product insect infestation. Objectives of this proposal were: 1) plant replicated 1-acre corn fields with no Bt genes, single Bt gene, or multiple “stacked” Bt genes at both Tifton and Plains, GA; 2) quantify the incidence of armyworm, corn earworm, stink bug, maize weevil, and fungus beetle infestation in these plots as function of in-field location and time; and 3) store representative portions (~400 lb) the corn for a period of nine months to examine differences in post-harvest insect infestation and aflatoxin contamination as a function in-field location where the corn was grown in the plot. |
