MYCOTOXIN CONTENT IN MAIZE IN THE CASE OF Fusarium graminearum INOCULATION IS REDUCED AFTER FUNGICIDAL TREATMENT

The present study aims to investigate the effect of two pesticide products against Gibberella ear rot (Fusarium graminearum) on yield quality and quantity of maize (Zea mays L.) and choose the more appropriate application dose and time. Three field experiments were performed in the period 2019-2021 in the Plovdiv region, Bulgaria. Three different varieties of maize were used. The pesticides used were Propulse 250 SE (prothioconazole 125 g/l + fluopyram 125 g/l) -applied in two doses -0.6 l/ha or 1 l/ha and Prosaro 420 SC (prothioconazole 210 g/l + tebuconazole 210 g/l) -applied in only one dose -1 l/ha. Seven variants, including untreated control and six different treatments, were analyzed. The treatments were divided into two groups. To understand which application moment was more appropriate, half of the plots were treated before the inoculation, and the others -during the sporulation phase of the pathogen. The results showed a significant reduction in the disease severity and incidence after the application of both products. There were also differences in yield quantity and thousand kernel weight, hectoliter mass, and the content of deoxynivalenol.