Genetic variation for resistance and mycotoxin content of European maize inoculated with Fusarium graminearum and F. verticillioides

Ear rot in maize caused by Fusarium graminearum and/or F. verticillioides is a devastating disease resulting in contamination by several mycotoxins (deoxynivalnol, DON, zearalenone, ZEA, fumonisins, FUM). Significant (P=0.01) genetic variation for resistance to ear rot and mycotoxin content was found in both early and mid-late maturity groups of adapted European maize. The resistance reaction of the genotypes is highly dependent on environment, multi-environment testing is indispensable. F. verticillioides generally produces lower amount of disease compared to F. graminearum, however, the FUM contents are still substantial. High correlations between ear rot rating and DON and FUM concentrations, respectively, allow a prescreening on the basis of visual rating. For ZEA, the results still have to be verified in further experiments.