RESISTANCE OF FLINT AND DENT MAIZE FORMS FOR COLONIZATION BY FUSARIUM SPP. AND MYCOTOXINS CONTAMINATION

This paper considers the aspect of ear rot caused by Fusarium graminearuum and/or by F verticillioides in relation to flint and dent forms of maize. Flint and dent inbred lines were inoculated with F graminearum and F verticillioides. Significant differences in resistance level and toxin content were determined in all treatments: after silk-channel inoculation with F. graminearum and after tooth-pick inoculation with F graminearum and F verticillioides. The flint forms were more susceptible to F verticillioides after tooth-pick inoculation than dent forms. The relationship between phenotype score of disease severity and deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins - FUM (FB1, FB2 and FB3) was determined. The flint kernels have been more resistant than the dent ones to pre or- postharvest attack by Fusarium spp.