Abstract: Corn is the one of the most important
crops in Serbia. Corn is grown on 1.200.000
hectares. It is susceptible to a number of ear and
kernel rots, some of which are widely distributed
and can cause significant damage in humid areas.
Ear and kernel rots can reduce yield, quality and
feed value of grain. Toxins produced by the fungi in
corn can also have serious implications to the end
use of the grain. Fungi belonging to the genus
Fusarium are the most significant fungi which can
cause corn ear and kernel rots. The aim of this
paper is to test health of mercantile maize seed
which belong to 3 different hybrids (PR 34N43, PR
36K67 and PR 37N01). Seed health testing was
done using filter paper and nutritive media (PDA)
method. The weather during vegetation period
(April-October) was very variable. Total rainfall
amount for Sombor for that period in Sombor area
was 744 mm. Fungi from genera Fusarium,
Penicillium, Aspergillus and Alternaria were
isolated from tested corn seed by both methods. No
significant differences were found between tested
hybrids in the level of seed contamination. Two
species from the genus Fusarium were found in the
tested corn samples F. graminearum and F.
moniliforme. These species are some of the most
common on corn in Serbia. Tested hybrids which
belong to different FAO maturity groups showed
differences in susceptibility to ear and kernel rot.
Although the observed percent of Fusarium species
was from 5.6-9.7% there is no significant
difference between yield of tested hybrids. But if the
infection potential is present, during storage
condition (if the conditions in the storage are not
optimal) sever seed contamination could appear.
So, the next step is monitoring of mycotoxins
production of isolated species, in the first place the
two Fusarium species and Penicillium and
Aspergillus.