EVALUATION OF FUSARIUM RESISTANCE TESTS ON MAIZE APPLIED IN THE NATIONAL VARIETY REGISTRATION IN HUNGARY

Abstract

With respect to maize, as one of the most significant agricultural plant species in the world, resistance to Fusarium is particularly important since chemical control against it is difficult. For food safety, the National Food Chain Safety Office of Hungary (NFCSO) tests the resistance of varieties reported for national registration against Fusarium stalk and ear rot (Fusarium spp.). In this study, we present the results obtained based on the current methodology of resistance test. Based on the comparison of Fusarium infection of the variety trial set up in 12 different production sites (Variety Trial Station) in years under test (2014, 2015 and 2016), we test the effects of the harvest year and trial site based on the rate of infection and the susceptibility/resistance of 19 hybrids tested for 3 years. There is significant difference between harvest years, trial sites, and hybrids based on the infection of stalk and ear rot. Based on our findings, the current methodology can be successfully applied to determining the level of field resistance.