Cereal Chem 59:100 - 105.  |  VIEW ARTICLE
Storage of High-Moisture Corn: Fungal Growth and Dry Matter Loss.

L. M. Seitz, D. B. Sauer, and H. E. Mohr. Copyright 1982 by the American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc. 

Carbon dioxide, ergosterol, and aflatoxin were monitored to investigate the relationship between dry matter loss (DML) and fungal growth during storage of 150-200-g samples of rewetted and freshly harvested corn under controled conditions at 22-27% moisture. Corn that was surface sterilized with hypochlorite solution and had little or no internal fungi lost more than 0.5% dry matter without significant fungal growth during storage. Any samples that were invaded by fungi during storage showed relatively little change in respiratory rate compared to the change in fungal invasion indicated by ergosterol and aflatoxin contents. Results suggested that respiration of grain itself was a major contributor to DML. The amount of fungal invasion when storage time was equivalent to 0.5% DML varied considerably depending on the amount and type of kernel damage and on whether or not Aspergillus flavus inoculum was added. A. flavus growth during storage was sufficient, especially in damaged corn, to produce aflatoxin before loss of 0.5% dry matter. Results indicate that current recommendations based on DML for temporary storage of high- moisture corn should be used cautiously when conditions are favorable for fungal growth.