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Agricultural crops :: Cereals :: Maize

Aspergillus rot / Aflatoxin contamination rot: Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus

Symptoms:    

  • Appears as an olive-green mould on the kernels from the tip of the ear
  • Fungal spores appear as powdery and may disperse like dust when you pull back the husk
  • Fungus produces a mycotoxin known as aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1 and G2)
  • Aflatoxin affects grain quality and marketability, as well as livestock health if the grain is consumed
  • Aflatoxin is extremely carcinogenic and most countries have regulations (20 ppb)

Favourable condition:

  • During hot, dry years on stressed plants
  • Feeding damage from ear-invading insects and injury by birds or hail

Mode of Spread:

  • The fungus survives in soil or crop residue and infects ears during late silking
  • Spores are spread by wind and insects and infection takes place through wounds or the silks

Management:

  • Maize must be dried to below 14 percent moisture
  • Reduce the stress to the crop during harvesting
  • Avoid wound in kernels by insects/birds
  • Appropriate fertility to the crop


Cob contamination by Aspergillus
 
 

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