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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #186079
Title: Liberty Link and Urea on Aflatoxin and Fumonisin Levels in Corn

Author
item Bruns, Herbert
item Abbas, Hamed

Submitted to: Aflatoxin Elimination Workshop Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/24/2005
Publication Date: 10/24/2005
Citation: Bruns, H.A., Abbas, H.K. 2005. Liberty Link and Urea on Aflatoxin and Fumonisin Levels in Corn. Aflatoxin Elimination Workshop Proceedings. October 24-26, 2005, Raleigh, North Carolina. 2005 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: An experiment was done to ascertain if Liberty herbicide {glufosinate-ammonium [2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-ammonium salt]} or urea [CO(NH2)2] would reduce fungal growth of Aspergillus flavus Link ex Fries and Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg (synonym =. F. moniliforme J. Sheld.), and thus their respective mycotoxins, aflatoxin and fumonisin, in pre-harvest corn (Zea mays L.). Four corn hybrids, two genetically modified to be resistant to Liberty herbicide and two non-genetically modified, were planted at Stoneville, MS in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 in a randomized complete block with a split-plot arrangement of treatments replicated four times. The experiment was furrow irrigated. Individual plots were two rows 9 m long, spaced 102 cm apart, and included one of the following treatments: 1) untreated non-inoculated check, 2) untreated inoculated check, 3) 0.23 % v:v Liberty:water, 4) 1.13% v:v Liberty:water, and 5) 0.075 molar solution of urea. Twenty ears selected at random in each sub-plot were inoculated with a pin bar, using a culture of F3W4 A. flavus. Fusarium verticillioides was allowed to infect naturally. Among years, inoculated ears averaged 153.6 mg/Mg to 257.3 mg/Mg more aflatoxin than non-inoculated ears. Neither Liberty nor urea reduced aflatoxin or fumonisin contamination. Hybrids did not differ in yield or aflatoxin contamination but one brand had less fumonisin (3.7 mg/kg and 2.3 mg/kg) than the other (7.5 mg/kg and 6.9 mg/kg). Grain yields were less in 2004 (6.9 Mg/ha) than 2001 (8.8 Mg/ha) or 2002 (9.0 Mg/ha).