Aflatoxins in Cottonseed as Affected by the Pink Bollworm

Abstract

Pink bollworm [Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders)] larval exit holes increased infection by Aspergillus flavus Link and aflatoxin accumulation in seed from all zones of the cotton plant (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The average aflatoxin level in seed from the bottom, middle, and top zones of the plant was at least 1,000 times greater in 1970, when the pink bollworm was common, than in 1965 when the insect was absent. In order to determine total aflatoxins in cottonseed from pink bollworm infested areas, it becomes necessary to harvest seed from the entire plant as infection by A. flavus and aflatoxin accumulation are no longer limited to the bottom third of the plant. Control of the pink bollworm will be necessary if the aflatoxin problem is to be minimized.