The influence of fusarium ear infection on the maize yield and quality (Transylvania-Romania).

: Maize is the host for a large number of pathogens, which invade all of its organs from the germination until the harvest, ear and grain infection often remain even during the storage. Diseases, through their symptoms reduce significantly the quantity and the quality of the yield, estimated between 7-17% but, in the favorable years for the diseases, they can be much greater. Fuzarienne diseases reduce yield value and quality by massive accumulation by mycelium biomass of Fusarium (about 85%) on the grain and ears and by mycotoxins contamination such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA). In the paper are presented aspects regarding the reaction of 12 maize hybrids under natural and artificial infections; the effect of Fusarium ear infection on the grain chemical composition; the correlation between ear rot diseased degree and yield ability and starch, protein and fat content. ANOVA evidenced the significant influence for experimental factors: infection conditions with Fusarium spp., genotypes, and their interaction on the discased degree, yield capacity, protein, starch and fat content. Ear diseased degree with Fusarium spp. affected yield ability and grain chemical composition for almost maize hybrids which were tested. Average yield losses ranged between 7.0-9.3% during the testing period. The hybrids Turda SU 181, Turda Mold 188 and Turda 200 are more tolerant to Fusarium ear rot, and Turda SU 210 is most susceptible. The artificial infection of ear with Fusarium spp. determined significantly decrease of starch and fat content and increase the protein content for most part of maize hybrids. Between the analyzed parameters: Fusarium diseases degree, yield ability, starch and fat content, there are negative and significantly correlations. Fusarium era rot modified chemical composition of maize kernels affected the quality of yield, especially for susceptible genotypes.