Aflatoxin and Mold Flora in North Carolina in 1977 Corn Crop

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Abstract
A 1977 survey of 238 corn samples from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain area of North Carolina revealed that 187 samples contained aflatoxin; of these, 139 were above the 20 ppb guideline. Aflatoxin G1 was found in 32 samples from the Piedmont/mountain area. The highest level of aflatoxin found was 3,622 ppb. In general, the higher the percentage of insect-damaged corn the higher the aflatoxin levels found. The sample with the most insect-damaged corn (11%) showed a level of 2,208 ppb, and all samples with 4.5% or more insect damage contained aflatoxin. In general, the greater the infection of corn by Aspergillus flavus the higher the level of aflatoxin, with 7 samples having 40–44 undamaged kernels out of 50 infected. Aspergillus niger was found in 10.9% of the samples, but there was no positive correlation with the amounts of aflatoxin found. Strains of Penicillium funiculosum series isolated from South Carolina and reported by us earlier were found again in 25.3% of the total kernels examined. Few other Penicillium or Aspergillus species were seen. Corn germination was high in most samples. Assuming that most of the aflatoxin G1 was produced by A. parasiticus, we found a definite ecological correlation of G1 with an ecological area, namely the Piedmont/mountain area.

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