ABSTRACT
A major thrust of the work has been an effort to reduce or eliminate aflatoxin contamination by acquiring more information on the biology of the toxin-producing species, Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, as well as on factors affecting fungal infection and the aflatoxin contamination level. Heterogeneity in stored maize may reflect preharvest crop conditions, meteorological events during harvest, or handling technique during and after harvest. Grain entering commercial channels is often intentionally blended to achieve: an average moisture level required for a specific grade, a specific quality level, by blending lower with higher quality grain, and additional storage time, by blending dry grain with high-moisture grain. Effective biological control of aflatoxin-producing fungi in developing maize kernels requires information about the range of fungal species that can effectively compete in the econiche. The laboratory studies of microbial competition with aflatoxin-producing fungi on postharvest maize have produced provocative concepts on nature of the interacting mycoflora on the mature seed.
