The Influence Of Fusarium Ear Infection On The Maize Yield And Quality In Some Maize Hybrids Created At ARDS Turda

Abstract

Abstract. Maize is a host plant for a large number of pathogens, over 50, that invade all of the plant organs from the moment of germination to the moment of harvesting, and cobs and seeds infections continue most of the times during crops storage. Pathogen agents contributes to deterioration and decrease quantity and quality of yield contributes to productions decreasing, both quantitative and qualitatively, with an average percentage of 20 - 25% in our country. The most damaging in quantitative and qualitative point of view are diseases caused by genus Fusarium spp.. The objectives of this paper are determining the productivity and the quality of corn hybrids created at ARDS Turda, in natural and artificial infection with Fusarium spp, and identification of resistant hybrids to Fusarium spp attack. In 2011-2012 the hybrids were tested in natural and artificial infection conditions. The inoculation was made on each cob using 4 ml of suspension. Following research we can assert the following conclusions: in terms of natural infections in both 2011 and 2012 the most productive hybrids were Turda Favorit (10.74 t / ha, 9.87 t / ha) and Turda Star (10.72 t / ha 8.78 t / ha). Yields hybrids in the study decreased by 0.3 t / ha - 1.4 t / ha under artificial infection. Artificial infections produce changes in biochemical composition of the grain. Hybrids analyzed starch content and oil are lower and protein percentage increased after artificial inoculation.