Control of Aspergillus Maize by Carbondioxide Fumigation

Abstract

The experiment on suitable rate of carbondioxide fumigation for controlling fungal growth and aflatoxin contamination of high moisture maize was carried out at Naknon Sawan Filed Crops Research Center in October 1992. The rates of Co2 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 2.0 kg/gon were used to fumigate the maize grain bulks precedingly covered by plastic sheets. Four days after fumigation, it was found that all fumigation rates gave effective control on Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin contamination. Besides, grain quality and temperature in the bulks were not changed. The non-fumigated grain bulks were severely infected by A. flavus while level of aflatoxin contamination and grain bulk temperature wee significantly increased.