Distribution of fumonisins in maize ears infected with strains of Fusarium moniliforme that differ in fumonisin production

Strains of Fusarium moniliforme (Gibberella fujikuroi mating population A) that differ in fumonisin production in vitro were previously identified in a Kansas field population. One strain that produced high levels of fumonisins and two strains that produced very low levels of fumonisins were applied to maize kernels at planting at the Rocky Ford Farm near Manhattan, Kansas. The distribution of fumonisins in symptomatic and symptomless kernels from individual harvested ears was determined by high performance liquid chromatography, and the distribution of the three applied strains in the kernels was determined by vegetative compatibility group analysis. Both symptomatic and symptomless kernels were extensively colonized with F. moniliforme, but the highest levels of fumonisins were in the symptomatic kernels. All three applied strains were recovered from kernels in 1993, and two of them were recovered from kernels in 1994. However, a high frequency of ear and kernel infection with a strain that produced little fumonisin in vitro did not consistently decrease the level of fumonisins. The frequency of infection with fumonisin low-producing strains may have been too low for competitive exclusion of naturally occurring fumonisin high-producing strains. Also, strains that are low-fumonisin producers under laboratory conditions may be high producers in the field.