153DETECTION OF FUNGAL PATHOGENS FROM MAIZE SEEDS OF CENTRAL TAMIL NADU, INDIAMaize (Zea mays L.) is one of the main cereals used worldwide as raw material for the preparation of different food products, such as bread, cakes, cookies, tortillas, pizzas, pancakes, donuts, extruded snacks and baby food. An important impediment of maize production is the infection of fungi. The aim of the study was to isolate and determine the level of aflatoxin in fresh and stored maize samples. Fungal growth or contamination was found in almost all the stored samples. In the analysis for aflatoxin, Aflatoxin B1, B2 and G1 were detected. Five pathogenic fungi, namely Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus parasiticus, Penicillium rubens and Penicillium citrinum were isolated and identified from Maize seeds from different areas. This study recommends that there is a need for proper storage of Maize seed to minimize the fungal invasion and their mycotoxin production. This study also reveals that the presence of diverse mycoflora of both pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi in Maize seeds in ruling different parts of Central Tamil Nadu.egwesely@yahoo.comResearch4112014Maize,Central Tamilnadu,Mycotoxin,AflatoxinK.Parvathi,V.Uma,M.S Begum,E.G. WeselyPh. D Scholar, Dept. of Botany, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli- 627012, TN, India,Dept. of Botany, G.V. N. College, Kovilpatti - 628502, TN, India, TN, India.,Dept. of Biochemistry, Muthayammal College of Arts & Science, Rasipuram - 637 408,TN, India,Dept. of Botany, Arignar Anna Government Arts College, Namakkal-637002, TN, India