| Abstract: | Fifty‐one samples of shelled corn were rewetted to 21% wb moisture content (MC) and evaluated for susceptibility to fungal invasion using ergosterol measurements and a test kit that measures carbon dioxide (CO2) evolution. The sample attributes measured were percent germination, electrolyte leakage after soaking in deionized water, percent fines, and percent kernel infection. The difference in ergosterol content before and after incubation at 24°C was used as the standard measure of fungal growth. Differences in CO2 evolution among the samples were consistent with expectations for fungal growth based on storage history. The coefficients of determination (r2) for the linear regression of ergosterol difference with CO2 kit readings were 0.46–0.60. All were statistically significant (α = 0.001) and r2 values were slightly greater when four high‐oil corn samples were removed. These results indicate that the CO2 test can be used to assess fungal susceptibility of rewetted shelled corn, which may also be indicative of its susceptibility before rewetting. The linear regressions of kernel attributes with ergosterol difference (48 < n < 51) that were statistically significant included percent germination, r2 = 0.49 (α = 0.001); electrolyte leakage, r2 = 0.27 (α = 0.001); and percent fines determined with a 4.76‐mm sieve, r2 = 0.12 (α = 0.05). |
