L. Ashnagar, S. Rezaei, M. Darvishnia, M. Zamani
Abstract. In order to evaluate the reaction of 14 corn cultivars to Fusarium ear rot infection (Fusarium verticillioides) and identify resistant or tolerant cultivars, an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 14 treatments (cultivars) and three replications through artificial inoculation by nail punch method in Khorram Abad. Fungal inoculum consisting of a mixture of spores was applied to each ear 7 to 10 days after silk stage by the injection of 3 ml of inoculums (1×106 spore/ml) to cause Fusarium ear rot infection. At physiological maturity, at harvest time, disease incidence and disease severity was evaluated based on the disease progress in each ear, and resistance of experimental cultivars were measured. Depend on disease severity (Jeffers et al., 1994) to Fusarium ear rot (1st-6th index), cultivars categoried into resistant, tolerant and susceptible groups. The results showed that KSC 700 and DS 499 were resistant and Karduna 630 was the most susceptible cultivars.