Fusarium ear rot disease of maize

Fusarium ear rot is one of the most important diseases of corn in Iran. This disease cause by Fusarium moniliforme fungus. Its symptoms are pink to red spots on ear, cause it completely rot and eventually loss of yield quantity and quality. Identification and cultivation resistant or semi-resistant corn hybrids is the best management method of this disease. Artificial infection of maize hybrids with fungal suspension of causal agent is an affective method to study their reactions, determine base on disease severity index (%DS). According to research conducted in Iran, between 12 planting hybrids, 2 hybrids K3493 / 1 × K18 and KLM 77029/8-1-2-3-2-3 × MO17 are resistant, and 9 are semi- resistant. With extension, cultivation of these hybrids, can manage the disease and increase the quality and quantity of maize hoped.