Effects of Postharvest Oil and Fungicide Application on Storage Fungi in Corn Following High-Temperature Grain Drying

Abstract

Three experiments compared the efficacy of the fungicides thiabendazole or iprodione with a water carrier before or after drying, and with an oil carrier at dust-control rate before drying for control of storage fungi. A fourth experiment compared the efficacy of thiabendazole applied in water, degummed soybean oil, food-grade soybean oil, or white mineral oil carrier before grain drying, and measured the efficacy of each oil without fungicide. After high-temperature drying, grain was stored for 40-42 wk in modified grain bins. The incidence of storage fungi was determined following plating of kernels on malt salt agar. All fungicide treatments reduced the incidence of Penicillium and Aspergillus spp. when compared to non-fungicide-treated controls