Fusarium verticillioides, a known producer of fumonisins, has been reported to be the most common pathogen of maize causing Fusarium ear rot and grain fumonisin contamination. A field experiment was conducted from 2005 to 2007 in North Italy to determine the effects of sowing date and insecticide treatment against ECB on the susceptibility of maize to Fusarium ear rot and to fumonisin contamination in natural infection conditions. Three sowing dates and two insecticide applications were compared for each year. The late sown maize showed significantly higher insect damage to both the plants (stalks) and the ears (kernels and cobs). The ECB damage severity was 23% higher for the later sowing date than for the earlier. The insecticide treatment significantly reduced the ECB infestation compared to the untreated control. A significant effect of the sowing date and of the insecticide application on Fusarium ear rot was highlighted. The earlier sowing date reduced the ear rot incidence and severity by 25% and 49% respectively, compared to the later dates. The insecticide application led to 25% lower ear rot severity than the untreated control. The fumonisin contamination was significantly reduced by an earlier sowing date (62%) and by the treatment against ECB (51%). The plots sown earlier and treated with insecticide resulted in a 79% lower concentration of fumonisins in kernels compared to plots characterized by later sowing and a lack of treatment. In temperate climates, where ECB attack is consistent a low fumonisin contamination may be enhanced by an early sowing date and a correct insecticide application against 2nd-generation ECB larvae.
The influence of sowing date and insecticide treatments on Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) damage and fumonisin contamination in maize kernels
BLANDINO, Massimo;SALADINI, Matteo Alessandro;REYNERI, Amedeo;VANARA, Francesca;ALMA, Alberto
2008-01-01
Abstract
Fusarium verticillioides, a known producer of fumonisins, has been reported to be the most common pathogen of maize causing Fusarium ear rot and grain fumonisin contamination. A field experiment was conducted from 2005 to 2007 in North Italy to determine the effects of sowing date and insecticide treatment against ECB on the susceptibility of maize to Fusarium ear rot and to fumonisin contamination in natural infection conditions. Three sowing dates and two insecticide applications were compared for each year. The late sown maize showed significantly higher insect damage to both the plants (stalks) and the ears (kernels and cobs). The ECB damage severity was 23% higher for the later sowing date than for the earlier. The insecticide treatment significantly reduced the ECB infestation compared to the untreated control. A significant effect of the sowing date and of the insecticide application on Fusarium ear rot was highlighted. The earlier sowing date reduced the ear rot incidence and severity by 25% and 49% respectively, compared to the later dates. The insecticide application led to 25% lower ear rot severity than the untreated control. The fumonisin contamination was significantly reduced by an earlier sowing date (62%) and by the treatment against ECB (51%). The plots sown earlier and treated with insecticide resulted in a 79% lower concentration of fumonisins in kernels compared to plots characterized by later sowing and a lack of treatment. In temperate climates, where ECB attack is consistent a low fumonisin contamination may be enhanced by an early sowing date and a correct insecticide application against 2nd-generation ECB larvae.
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