EFFECT OF FUNGAL INFESTATION ON THE STARCH, LIPIDS AND DRY-WEIGHT OF MAIZE SEEDS

Infestation of three varieties of maize (Zea mays L.) by six dominant maize seed fungi, viz. Alternaria alternate, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium moniliforme, Penicillium expansum, Rhizopus nigricans and Trichoderma viride, resulted in the reduction in dry weight, increase in fat acidity and depletion of starch. A. flavus increased fat acidity in, 'Local White variety and 'Vijay' (53.5% and 69.2%) and P. expansum in 'VL-16' variety (74.2%), after 30 days of incubation. Starch depletion was found to be slow during the initial phase of incubation. but became pronounced after 30 days of incubation. A. flavus showed maximum depletion of starch (48.5%) and A. alternata the least (25.3%). Highest reduction in dry weight of the seeds was in case of A. flavus.