Some biological and chemical characteristics of damaged corn

The predominant fungi isolated from damaged kernels of corn (maize) plated on agar media were species of Aspergillus (mainly A. glaucus) and Penicillium. Masses of spores and mycelium of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Fusarium were present in the cavities of the embryo of many kernels from which no fungi grew. Some samples had a high percentage of blue-eye kernels, evidently caused mainly by A. restrictus and A. glaucus. The embryos of all damaged kernels were decayed to some extent by fungi. Weight averaged 51 · 7 lb/bu, not much below that of sound corn. Fat acidity values ranged from 90–324. No aflatoxin was found in any of the 24 samples tested.