Fungal Colonists of Maize Grain Conditioned at Constant Temperatures and Humidities

Fungal colonization of shelled maize (Pioneer 3320) harvested from a field near Furman, South Carolina, in 1992 was determined after 348 and 751 days of continuous storage at each of seven temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40°C) and four constant relative humidities, giving equilibrium grain moisture contents ranging from 9.4% to 17.5% m.c. in 28 grain conditioning environments. Twenty fungal species infected surface sterilized seeds and were recorded from these conditioned grain treatments, including species commonly found in preharvest maize [e.g. Acremonium zeae, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium moniliforme (syn. F. verticillioides), Penicillium pinophilum (syn. P. funiculosum), etc.]. Eupenicillium cinnamopurpureum and Monascus ruber were recorded only from conditioned grain treatments. Eurotium chevalieri colonized 50-96% of the kernels from grain conditioning treatments with the highest moisture content for each incubation temperature. Grain samples with \u3e33% E. chevalieri infection had a decreased occurrence of F. moniliforme and A. zeae, and no kernels from these samples germinated. No fungi colonized more than 50% of the kernels conditioned at 30-40°C and 9.4-14.2% m.c. The results of this study indicate that individual patterns of fungal colonization during grain conditioning were a function of the survival rates for preharvest fungal colonists and their potential replacement by E. chevalieri

Fungal Colonists of Maize Grain Conditioned at Constant Temperatures and Humidities

Fungal colonization of shelled maize (Pioneer 3320) harvested from a field near Furman, South Carolina, in 1992 was determined after 348 and 751 days of continuous storage at each of seven temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40°C) and four constant relative humidities, giving equilibrium grain moisture contents ranging from 9.4% to 17.5% m.c. in 28 grain conditioning environments. Twenty fungal species infected surface sterilized seeds and were recorded from these conditioned grain treatments, including species commonly found in preharvest maize [e.g. Acremonium zeae, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium moniliforme (syn. F. verticillioides), Penicillium pinophilum (syn. P. funiculosum), etc.]. Eupenicillium cinnamopurpureum and Monascus ruber were recorded only from conditioned grain treatments. Eurotium chevalieri colonized 50-96% of the kernels from grain conditioning treatments with the highest moisture content for each incubation temperature. Grain samples with \u3e33% E. chevalieri infection had a decreased occurrence of F. moniliforme and A. zeae, and no kernels from these samples germinated. No fungi colonized more than 50% of the kernels conditioned at 30-40°C and 9.4-14.2% m.c. The results of this study indicate that individual patterns of fungal colonization during grain conditioning were a function of the survival rates for preharvest fungal colonists and their potential replacement by E. chevalieri

Preliminary survey of the coprophilous fungi from a semi-arid grassland in Colorado, A

May, 1974.On cover: Grassland Biome, Ecosystem analysis studies, U.S. International Biological Program.Includes bibliographical references (pages 20-21)