FUSARIUM INFECTION IN SOME WAIKATO MAIZE

Fusarium infection in field and stored maize from the Waikato region of New Zealand was determined in 1988 and 1989. F. crookwellense, F. graminearum, and F. semitectum were the most common species isolated from leaf pieces, field kernels, and stored maize. The proportion of F. semitectum was greatest on stored maize. Levels of Fusarium infection on leaf pieces and field kernels were high in both years, as was the level of insect damage. Other potentially toxic fungi were also recorded, namely, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Diplodia, and Penicillium species. Field maize yielded Penicillium species of low toxicity, but 22 isolates of P. crustosum, a potential mycotoxin producer, were isolated from the 1988 and 1989 crop of stored maize, as well as 17 Diplodia maydis isolates and 53 non-toxigenic Aspergillus isolates.