Maize Ear Damage by Insects in Relation to Genotype and Aflatoxin Contamination in Preharvest Maize Grain

Abstract

Aflatoxin contamination in preharvest maize, Zea mays L., grain is a serious problem in the United States, especially in the southeastern production areas. Development of genotypes with resistance to ear-infesting insects, resistance to Aspergillus spp., and resistance to production of aflatoxin are maize-breeding objectives. Two cultivars, Mo20W × Teosinte and ‘lbadan B’, have been identified as having resistance to earinfesting insects when compared with the widely grown check hybrid B73 × Mo17. Although it was not determined if there was resistance to growth of Aspergillus flavus (Link ex Fries) or aflatoxin production per se, it was confirmed that these two cultivars produced less aflatoxin in preharvest grain than B73 × Mo17. Also, Mo20W × Teosinte tended to have less aflatoxin than ‘lbadan B’.