Abstract:
The objective of this work was to evaluate fungicide leaf application on the reduction of fungal pathogen incidence, kernel rot, and total fumonisins in corn (Zea mays) kernels. Three experiments were performed: one in the municipality of Luís Eduardo Magalhães, in the state of Bahia, and two in the municipality of Sete Lagoas, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, during the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 crop seasons, with planting of different commercial hybrids. The following fungicides were applied zero, one, and two times: picoxystrobin + cyproconazole, pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole, trifloxystrobin + tebuconazole, azoxystrobin + cyproconazole, and thiophanate-methyl. For all trials, the quantification of kernel rot incidence, the grain pathology test, and the quantification of total fumonisins were performed. No significant difference was observed for the factors fungicide and number of applications, except for grain yield, in all trials. These results show the ineffectiveness of fungicide applications in reducing fungi incidence, kernel rot, and levels of total fumonisins in corn kernels.
Index terms:
Fusarium; Zea mays; chemical control; mycotoxins; pathogenic fungi.
