EVALUATION OF CORN GENOTYPES FOR RESISTANCE TO ASPERGILLUS EAR ROT, KERNEL INFECTION, AND AFLATOXIN PRODUCTION

Resistance of corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids and inbreds to ear rot, kerne l infection, and aflatoxin contamination caused by Aspergillus flavus was evaluated following inoculation. Thirty-five F-1 hybrids from cros ses of selected inbreds with the susceptible inbreds B73 and/or Mo17 w ere evaluated for 3 years in Illinois. Fifteen of the F-1 hybrids also were evaluated in Mississippi. Resistant and susceptible inbreds per se also were evaluated for 2 years in Illinois. Inbreds Tex6, Y7, and Mp420, and the F-1 hybrids with these inbreds, consistently had the gr eatest resistance to Aspergillus ear rot, kernel infection, and aflato xin production in the Illinois environment. Grain of the F-1 hybrids w ith these inbreds also had less aflatoxin in Mississippi. Pearson and Spearman rank correlation coefficients indicated that Aspergillus ear for ratings provided a more accurate estimate of aflatoxin contaminati on of grain than did kernel infection. From evaluations of the F-1 hyb rids and the inbred parents per se, inbreds were identified that may c ontain alleles for resistance not found in B73 and/or Mo17.