Pre-Ripening damage to cottonseed byaspergillus flavus is not influenced by seed coat permeability

Infection of cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum L.) byAspergillus flavus and associated production of aflatoxins are problems in the arid portions of the United States cotton belt. The hard seed (impermeable to water) characteristic confers resistance to these problems in ripened cottonseed. Experiments were done to determine if low seed coat permeability to water or impermeability protect developing seeds from deterioration and aflatoxin formation. No differences were observed in the degree of seed deterioration in the various cotton lines that could be attributed to seed coat permeability. It is likely that, because the impermeable or low permeability phenotypes are expressed only upon seed ripening, these characteristics afford no protection to cottonseed against attack byA. flavus during seed development. To whom correspondence should be addressed at USDA/ARS, Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1312.