Preharvest aflatoxin contamination of maize inoculated withAspergillus flavus andFusarium moniliforme

A two-year factorial experiment was utilized to test plants field-inoculated singly and in combination withAspergillus flavus andFusarium moniliforme. Pinbar inoculations were made through the husks with conidial suspensions, and 10-ear maize samples were harvested at 60 days post-silking for aflatoxin determinations. When ears were inoculated with both fungi simultaneously,F. moniliforme reduced aflatoxin formation byA. flavus isolate NRRL 3357 by approximately two-thirds.F. moniliforme had no significant effect on naturally occurring aflatoxin contamination byA. flavus. This may be due to the timing of infection by both fungi in the field. In nature,A. flavus andF. moniliforme respond differently to the environment, offering one explanation of whyF. moniliforme did not measurably affect the other fungus.