Tips On Aflatoxin In Corn
JACKSON, TENN.
There have been many reports
of Aflatoxin in corn
this season already in TN
and KY due to the hot, dry
weather. Some producers are
being turned down at the selling
points because there was
aflatoxin detected in the
grain. Right is a picture of the
fungus Aspergillus flavis that causes Aflatoxin.
It is an olive-greenish color when growing on the
ear. A darker green fungus that may be present
is Pencillum spp. Sometimes, infected kernels
may not show any symptoms but
only appear dull and discolored.
Earworms and corn borers are not
required for this fungus to cause
aflatoxin.
Here are a few things that you
might need to know now. I am posting
a PowerPoint presentation on utcrops.
com that tells more about this
problem (link to presentation).
• A limit of 20 ppb of aflatoxin content
or lower to legally sell the corn
or ship over state lines.
• Black light can be used to detect
affected corn, but is not very reliable.
Grains must be cracked to see
blue/green shine.
• Corn should be stored below 13
percent moisture to prevent more fungus
growth and aflatoxin production.
• The distillation process does not eliminate
aflatoxin from the brewers mesh and therefore
cannot be used as feed.
• Aflatoxin is very, very carcinogen and very
very poisonous, but must be ingested to cause
problems. Ten to 20 ppb of aflatoxin can result
in fatal liver cancer.
• Finishing Swine can be feed up to 200 ppb in
their final ration. Finishing beef cattle can be
feed up to 300 ppb in the final ration.
• Dairy cattle only 0.5 ppb.
• One USDA researcher working on aflatoxin
says, to have grain moisture below 13 percent
before bagging stored grain in plastic bags.
• There is nothing that can legally be used to
get rid of the aflatoxin completely.
• Harvest corn promptly because the longer
the affected corn remains in the field the more
aflatoxin build-up that can occur.
• Reduce cracking when harvesting. Cracked
corn is more susceptible to secondary infection.
Reduce trash and green, wet material in the
harvested corn.
• Let me know if you have any questions about
Aflatoxin in corn. Δ
DR. MELVIN NEWMAN: Professor, Extension
Plant Pathologist, University of Tennessee