The role of breeding in reducing mycotoxin contamination in maize

The toxin contamination in maize occurs often. High numbers of reports deal with the problem, but only a limited number of sources deal with resistance as man of decreasing toxin contamination. 30 hybrids were tested in two years against F. graminearum, F culmorum and F. verticillioides. Artificial inoculation was made by the toothpick method. Evaluation of ear rot was at the September. Thereafter mycotoxin analysis was made for DON and fumonisin B-1-B-4. Data clearly show large differences in susceptibility and toxin contamination corresponded well for DON and fumonisms with visual severity. There was also a medium level correlation between the resistance of hybrids to different Fusarium spp. and isolates. Interannual correlations were at about r = 0.60 indicating a possibility of common resistance. The higher resistance is an important mean to decrease toxin contamination.