C. Szőke

Studies on the adaptability of maize hybrids under various ecological conditions

The adaptability of twelve single cross maize hybrids was investigated at five different locations in Hungary over a three-year period. The characters examined were individual plant production (total mass of the ears on a single plant), thousand kernel mass, number of kernel rows, ear length, number of kernels per row, shelling % and the assimilating leaf area above the main ear.Among these yield components, the individual plant production, the ear length, the number of kernels per row and the grain-cob ratio (shelling %) were influenced to the greatest extent by the year, followed by the variety and the location. The greatest average yield was achieved by the tested hybrids at all five locations in 1997 (263 g/plant). The average yields in 1998 and 1999 were significantly lower (221 and 203 g/plant, respectively). The outstanding yields achieved in 1997 could be attributed to the favourable ecological conditions, which led to the development of secondary ears in Keszthely and Sopronhorpacs. At the other ...

Erratum to: Identification of airborne propagules of the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex during maize production

The airborne dispersal of the anamorphs of the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex was studied under pre- and postharvest maize (corn) production conditions using a 3-stage Andersen sampler. The aim of this study was to identify and analyse the size distribution of such species in air samples. Differences were observed between the concentration of large- and small-sized propagules (identified as aggregates and single microconidia, respectively), but the difference was only significant during a high concentration period (October 2007, P = 0.009). No correlation was found between the concentration of fusaria found at different sampling heights (10 and 150 cm above ground level). Fusarium isolates were collected and identified based on morphological characters and using species-specific PCR assays. The PCR analysis confirmed morphological identification of F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans. High concentrations were found during the maize harvest, loading and corn shelling. Our results showed that the monitoring of F. verticillioides should be performed at a single sampling height.