Evaluation of Two Arthropod Vectors as Inoculators of Developing Maize Ears with Aspergillus flavus

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Abstract
The wheat curl mite, Eriophyes tulipae (Kifer), and the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky), were evaluated as potential vectors of Aspergillus flavus Link ex Fries for use in the screening of maize ( Zea mays L.) cultivars for genetic resistance to A. flavus . The mite did not effectively vector A. flavus spores into the kernel. The maize weevil (dusted with A. flavus spores), however, can be an effective vector of this pathogen in areas such as Missouri where natural levels of infection are erratic.