FUNGAL COLONIZATION AND ZEARALENONE ACCUMULATION IN MAIZE EARS INJURED BY BIRDS

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Abstract
Relationships of depredation by red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus L.) and simulated bird injury to fungal development, zearalenone accumulation, yield and protein in maize (Zea mays L.) ears were examined. Natural and simulated bird injury were inflicted when the kernels were at the milk or soft-dough stages of development. Both treatments predisposed kernels to fungal colonization. In noninjured maize, fungi proliferated on few kernels of only a few ears. However, in injured maize, injured kernels were colonized rapidly by weakly aggressive fungi and noninjured kernels were colonized frequently and often extensively by Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon and Fusarium graminearum Schwabe. Loosening and shredding of husks was a factor in predisposition to fungal growth. The mycotoxin zearalenone was found (0.5–7.0 μg/g dried kernels) in ears injured by birds or artificially, but not in noninjured ears. Yields of dried kernels in injured ears generally declined with increased natural or simulated bird injury, but often there was compensatory growth of noninjured kernels in injured ears. Crude protein usually constituted a higher percentage of kernel dry matter in injured ears than in noninjured ears.

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