[Propionic acid preservation of corn following inoculation with molds and yeasts].

In laboratory tests spores of 7 Fusarium species, 6 yeast species, and of the molds Paecilomyces varioti and Trichoderma viride were inoculated into propionic acid treated corn. The initial moisture content of the corn was adjusted to 19, 25, 32, and 40%, the propionic acid dosages being 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0% respectively. By these treatments the growth of the inoculated fungi was inhibited for a storage of a least 6 months at 20 degrees C. The inhibition of growth was indicated by the decrease of viable mold count, the percentage of surface-sterilized kernels infected with fungi being 0% after 6 months. In addition, by the propionic acid treatment the production of zearalenone by two strains of Fus. culmorum and three strains of Fus. graminearum, and the production of T-2 toxin by two strains of Fus. tricinctum and one strain of Fus. sporotrichioides was inhibited. These results were obtained during an incubation period of 1-4 months using a temperature shift (20 and 10 degrees C). The propionic-acid dosage sufficient for the inhibition of the inoculated fungi was lower than that recommended in the literature for large-scale treatment of corn.