Abstract
Deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) was identified in 33 commercial sweet corn (Z. mays) hybrids inoculated with Gibberella zeae. The concentration ranged 20-500 .mu.g/g of infected plant tissue and increased in diseased tissue as disease severity ratings increased. Zearalenone (F-2 mycotoxin) was identified in only 7 of the 29 inoculated hybrids, with the concentration ranging 0.4-270 .mu.g/g in infected tissue. All 3 isolates of G. zeae used in the inoculation tests produced deoxynivalenol, but only isolate W-8 produced zearalenone. Mold development in ears of inoculated sweet corn hybrids varied from < 25 to > 75% of the ear infected.