Abstract
Commercial maize hybrids are exposed to different degrees of ear infection by toxigenic fungal species and toxin contamination. Their resistance to different fungi and toxin relationships are largely unknown. Without this knowledge, screening and breeding are not possible for these pathogens. Seven- to tenfold differences were found in resistance to Fusarium spp., and there was a five-fold difference in ear coverage (%) in response to A. flavus. Three hybrids of the twenty entries had lower infection severity compared with the general means for toxigenic species. Three were highly susceptible to each, and 14 hybrids reacted differently to the different fungi. Differences were also observed in the toxin content. Again, three hybrids had lower toxin content in response to all toxigenic species, one had higher values for all, and 16 had variable resistance levels. Correlations between infection severity and deoxynivalenol (DON) content were 0.95 and 0.82 (p = 0.001) for F. graminearum and F. culmorum, respectively. For fumonisin and F. verticillioides ear rot, the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was 0.45 (p = 0.05). Two independent isolates with different aggressiveness were used, and their mean X values better described the resistance levels. This increased the reliability of the data. With the introduction of this methodological concept (testing the resistance levels separately for different fungi and with two isolates independently), highly significant resistance differences were found. The resistance to different fungal species correlated only in certain cases; thus, each should be tested separately. This is very useful in registration tests and post-registration screening and breeding. This would allow a rapid increase in food and feed safety.
Highlights
Maize is one of the most important cereals in the world
As more than 90% of the F. graminearum isolates of wheat belong to F. graminearum stricto senso [5], we focused in this study on this specimen
Among the hybrids highly susceptible to F. graminearum and F. culmorum we found extremely low fumonisin concentration, such as in NS6010 and NS50143, or very low concentration in the response of NS4030 to F. verticillioides, but very high for F. graminearum and F. culmorum
Summary
Maize is one of the most important cereals in the world. This crop is a regular host of toxigenic fungi infecting the ears, which can cause very high losses in crop yield. F. graminearum is the leading toxigenic species nearly everywhere, the situation is more complex in maize, where at least two leading species exist from Fusarium and Aspergillus, with similar significance, but different amounts in different years. The most important species in most regions are F. graminearum, F. verticillioides. Their control is needed in every corn production area. In Hungary, F. graminearum and F. verticillioides are the most important [2] In drier years the latter species is dominant. The dry year of 1975 saw a 28% occurrence of F. graminearum, 69%
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