Comparison of the side-needle and knife techniques for inducing Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin accumulation in corn hybrids

Abstract

Evaluation of corn genotypes for resistance to aflatoxin accumulation has evolved over the past 30 years. Inoculation techniques have been developed to ensure that plants are exposed to Aspergillus flavus and resistant genotypes can be identified. We compared two inoculation techniques (side needle and knife) and different inoculation rates in Georgia and Mississippi. The relative performance of side-needle and knife inoculation techniques did not change or interact significantly across site years, suggesting that both the needle and knife are consistent inoculation techniques for discriminating between resistant and susceptible corn hybrids at the Mississippi State and Tifton locations.

Keywords::

• Aspergillus flavus
• inoculation
• maize
• aflatoxin
• side-needle

Acknowledgements

The authors thank technicians Alan Hames, Mike Alpe, Paul Buckley, Gregg Flint, Jack Haynes, Gerald Matthews, and LaDonna Owens at the Mississippi State Location and Penny Tapp of Tifton location for technical assistance in the lab and field. This article is a contribution of the USDA-ARS in cooperation with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State, MS. It is published with the approval of both agencies as Journal No. J-11689 of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declaration of interests.