Manish Raizada at the University of Guelph has discovered that more than 5,000 types of bacteria colonize corn silks that were studied after corn was pollinated.
Of those, 10 or 15 appear to reduce fusarium and the mycotoxins fusarium mould produces.
Raizada believes this discovery holds potential to reduce fusarium, perhaps by spraying seed with the beneficial bacteria before planting, perhaps by spraying the crop just when silks emerge and perhaps to breed corn varieties that incorporate the beneficial aspects of the bacteria.
