THE EFFECT OF WEATHER CONDITIONS ON CORN SMUT INFECTION AND EUROPEAN CORN BORER INFESTATION IN SEVERAL CULTIVARS OF SWEET CORN

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of temperature and precipitation on the occurrence of corn smut and European corn borer on several cultivars of sweet corn. The field experiment was conducted in the years 2010-2012 at the Gorzyn Experimental and Teaching Station, branch in Swadzim, belonging to the Poznan University of Life Sciences. Eight cultivars of sweet corn were analysed in this study. Prior to harvest the number of plants infested with corn smut was determined, while after ear harvest the number of plants damaged by the European corn borer was established. The analysis of variance (alpha=0.05) and calculations of the correlation coefficient and regression were performed using the Statistica 10 programme. Analyses showed a significant effect of temperature (p<0.001) and precipitation (p<0.05) on the incidence of corn smut and damage by the European corn borer. In both cases temperature played a considerable role (r=0.6411, r=0.4362). Weather conditions influenced the occurrence of corn smut to a greater extent than they influenced the damage by the European corn borer. The study showed a significant effect (p<0.05) of insect feeding on Ustilago maydis Corda. infestation. Synthesis of the three years of experiments indicated significant differences between sweet corn cultivars in the number of plants damaged by European corn borers and infested by corn smut.