Influence of modified atmosphere storage on aflatoxin production in high moisture corn

Samples of freshly harvested corn and remoistened corn were inoculated with Asphergillus flavus and stored for 4 weeks at about 27 C in air and three modified atmospheres. Aflatoxins and fat acidity were determined weekly. Corn stored in the modified atmospheres did not accumulate over 15 mug of total aflatoxins per kg. Corn from the high CO2 treatment (61.7 per cent CO2, 8.7 per cent O2, and 29.6 per cent N2) was visibly molded at 4 weeks and had a higher fat acidity than the other treatments. In the N2 (99.7 per cent N2 and 0.3 per cent O2) and controlled atmosphere (13.5 per cent CO2, 0.5 per cent O2, 84.5 per cent N2) treatments, a fermentation-like odor was detected. When the corn was removed from the modified atmospheres it deteriorated rapidly and was soon contaminated with aflatoxins.