The Reaction of some Maize Hybrids, Created at ARDS TURDA, to Fusarium spp. Infection

The most important disease of maize in Romania are stalk and ear rot, which caused yield losses in average of 20%. The resistant hibrids represent one of the most efficient solution for reducing the field loses caused by Fusarium spp. on the maize (Nagy et al., 2006). Diseases caused by Fusarium spp. can affect the yield and grain quality of maize because of contamination with numerous mycotoxins produced by these fungi (Czembor et al., 2015). The purpose of this paper was to know more about the reaction of different maize hybrids to Fusarium and the evaluating the effect of ear rot on the yield ability and mycotoxins accumulation. The experiments carried out at ARDS Turda, during four years (2012-2015). The biological material was represented by 8 hybrids, from different maturity groups, tested in two infection conditions with Fusarium spp. (natural and artificial infections). The temperature and rainfalls of the four years of experiments corresponding to the vegetation of maize (april-september) are influenced favourably the pathogenesis of stalk and ear rot caused by Fusarium spp. and a good discrimination of the resistance reaction of genotypes. Fusarium ear rot has significantly affected production capacity and chemical composition of corn hybrids tested. In conditions of artificial infection with Fusarium spp. was a decrease in the content of starch, fat and increased protein content compared with artificially inoculated variants. The quantity of fumonizin B1+B2 has reached to 5630 μg/kg in conditions of artificial infection. There are negative correlations between production capacity and degree of attack of fusarium ear rot; depending on the reacting genotypes tested increasing disease causes production decrease. The response of maize hybrids to Fusarium infection is influenced by infection and climatic conditions. These factors affect production both in terms of quantity and quality and accumulation of mycotoxins

Research on the Relationship Between the Degree of European Corn Borer (Ostrinia Nubilalis Hbn.) Attack and Maize Fusariosis (Fusarium spp.) at ARDS Turda

The European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hübn.), which is found almost universally in Europe and America, is an extremely important pest from economic point of view (Szőke et al., 2005). European corn borer larvae cause physical injuries to stalks and ears, and promote infections with Fusarium, by carrying the fungus spores from the plant surface to the surfaces of damaged kernels or to the interior of stalks, where infection occurs (Czembor, 2015). On account of the fact that between Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. and Fusarium spp. there is a strong connection, and their presence lead to lower maize production, it’s purposed is reducing the corn borer attack, but also the occurrence of maize fusariosis, by applying treatments to the vegetation. The research was carried out at ARDS Turda, in the period 2014-2015 as a bifactorial experience, in which were performed two treatments on growing period, with insecticides, using the products: Avaunt 250 ml/ha (s.a. indoxacarb), Coragen 250 ml/ha (s.a. chlorantraniliprol), Proteus 400 ml/ha (s.a. tiacloprid + deltametrin), Calypso 150 ml/ha (s.a. tiacloprid) and Confidor 400 ml/ha (s.a. imidacloprid + deltametrin), and the biological material was used Turda 165 hybrid. Amid the climatic conditions in the two experimental years (2014-2015), regarding the frecquency attack of the Ostrinia nubilalis, 2015 proved to be a very favorable year for this pest, and by applying treatments to the vegetation, Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. and Fusarium spp. attack has been reduced very significant. In order to combat the european corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) chemically, are recommended products based on: chlorantraniliprol and tiacloprid+deltametrin

Preliminary Research on the Wheat Pests and on Their Integrated Control during 2015-2016, at Agricultural Research-Development Station Turda

In Transylvania, the evolution of wheat insect pests is strongly influenced by the ecotehnological conditions, by climate change and current technology (Malschi, 2009 Malschi et al., 2015). The paper presents the dynamics and importance of the main pests of wheat (thrips, aphids, leafhoppers, wheat flies, cereals sunbugs, investigated under the integrated pest control system suitable of the area. During 2015-2016, the investigations were conducted at the Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda, from the wheat no tillage cultural system with cereal rotation of three years and applying all zonal recommendations of technology and phytosanitary complex. The pest monitoring was performed based on the samples collected with entomological net, by decadal 100 sweep-net catches/sample. The study data shows the danger of the attack of abundant populations of wheat flies (Phorbia securis, Delia coarctata, Opomyza florum, Oscinella frit etc.; wheat fleas (Chaetocnema aridula) and cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopa); leafhoppers (Psammotettix alienus, Javesella pellucida, Macrosteles laevis); aphids (Sitobion avenae, Schizaphis graminum, Rhopalosiphum padi); thrips (Haplothrips tritici), sunbugs (Eurygaster maura, Aelia acuminata) etc., and the necessity of applying insecticide treatments on the vegetation.Since 2015, a stronger impact of global warming on the wheat pests structure (%) are found. This change began on the last ten years. The importance of cereal sunbugs is increasing, well as the importance of the wheat flies, aphids and leafhoppers, which requires professional study on the pest dynamics and adequate integrated control of wheat pests

The Importance of Integrated Pest Control on Wheat Crops Production, during 2015-2016, at Agricultural Research-Development Station Turda

In the wheat crops of central Transylvania a rich complex of phytophagous insects species is reported. Species of thrips, aphids, leafhoppers, flies, cereal leaf beetle and cereal bugs, affects the level of production and quality indicators of wheat grains. In the period of 2015-2016, various integrated pest control models have been applied, watching their effect on the production and quality indicators of wheat, based on applied insecticide treatments, in the experimental lots at ARDS Turda. The results on the quantified production parameters showed oscillations over previous multiannual values, due to the special climatic conditions of 2015 and 2016, to the density of entomophagous and phytophagous insect populations, influenced by the applied treatment system. It is noted that in the years 2015-2016, characterized as exceptional years, with unfavorable thermal and pluviometric conditions, with much higher values than the multiannual average, the gluten and protein content, zeleny index have lower values than in the previous years, at ARDS Turda. The specific annual climate characteristics have a major influence on the production and quality of wheat. Also, pest control strategies have a major impact on the production parameters and qualitative indicators of wheat

Application of Unconventional Tillage Systems to Maize Cultivation and Measures for Rational Use of Agricultural Lands

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the main agricultural crops grown worldwide under very diverse climate and soil conditions. For maize cultivation in a conventional tillage system, autumn plowing is a mandatory condition. Minimum soil tillage or no tillage has been applied in recent years, both in research and in production, for reasons relating to soil conservation and fuel economy. This paper presents the results of the research executed under pedoclimatic conditions at the Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda (ARDS Turda, Romania; chernozem soil) regarding the behavior of the maize hybrid Turda 332 cultivated in four tillage systems and two levels of fertilization during the period of 2016–2022. The following soil tillage systems were applied: a conventional tillage system (CT) and unconventional tillage systems in three variants—a minimum tillage system with a chisel (MTC), a minimum tillage system with a disk (MTD), and a no-tillage system (NT). They were applied with two levels of fertilization: basic fertilization (350 kg ha−1 NPK 16:16:16, applied at sowing) and optimized fertilization (350 kg ha−1 NPK 16:16:16 applied at sowing + 150 kg ha−1 calcium ammonium nitrate with additional fertilization in the phenophase of the maize with 6–7 leaves). The results highlight the fact that under the conditions of chernozem soils with a high clay content (41% clay content), maize does not lend itself to cultivation in MTD and NT, requiring deeper mobilization, with the yield data confirming this fact. This is because under the agrotechnical conditions for sowing carried out in MTD and NT, the seeder used (Maschio Gaspardo MT 6R) does not allow for the high-quality sowing of maize, especially under dry soil conditions. Instead, the MTC system could be an alternative to the conventional tillage system, with the yield difference being below 100 kg ha−1