HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wiatrak, P. J. Articles by Wilson, D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Wiatrak, P. J. Articles by Wilson, D. Agricola Articles by Wiatrak, P. J. Articles by Wilson, D. Related Collections Maize Pest Management Systems Maize Management

Production Paper

Influence of Planting Date on Aflatoxin Accumulation in Bt, non-Bt, and Tropical non-Bt Hybrids

^a Dep. of Plant Pathol., North Florida Res. and Educ. Cent., Univ. of Florida, 155 Research Rd., Quincy, FL 32351
^b Dep. of Plant Pathol., Univ. of Georgia, 109 Plant Science Drive, Tifton, GA 31793-0748

^* Corresponding author (pjwiatrak{at}mail.ifas.ufl.edu)

Received for publication December 19, 2003. Aflatoxin, produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus Link, reduces the value of corn (Zea mays L.) and is usually associated with high temperatures, water stress, and insect damage. The objective of this study was to determine if Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) corn hybrids or "tropical" germplasm could reduce aflatoxin accumulation with later planting dates. Aflatoxin accumulation (B₁, B₂, G₁, and G₂) in corn grain was evaluated on Bt, non-Bt, and tropical non-Bt hybrids and four planting dates (March, April, May, and June) from 1998 to 2000. Aflatoxin concentration in corn varied across years but generally decreased with later planting date. In 1998, aflatoxin accumulation was lower in Bt (314 ng g^–1) than non-Bt hybrids (634 ng g^–1) but not different than tropical non-Bt hybrid (470 ng g^–1). However, aflatoxin contamination was lower from Bt hybrids (70 ng g^–1) than from the tropical non-Bt hybrid (259 ng g^–1) but not different in non-Bt hybrids (86 ng g^–1) in 1999. In 2000, aflatoxin levels were low, and hybrid had no effect on aflatoxin concentration. Temperature and irrigation effects on aflatoxin accumulation were not consistent. Increased temperature and delayed harvest may lead to aflatoxin accumulation before harvest. However, precipitation may influence aflatoxin levels in some years. The results of this study indicate that aflatoxin accumulation in corn may be decreased with later planting date, and less accumulation in Bt than non-Bt or tropical non-Bt hybrids may be indirectly explained by insect reductions.

Abbreviations: Bt, Bacillus thuringiensis