OSU Corn Deoxynivalenol, DON, (Vomitoxin) Resistance Screening Program-2024

With support from Ohio Corn and Wheat through the Corn Check Off, OSU conducted its second year of corn deoxynivalenol (DON) hybrid susceptibility screening. The objective of this project was to identify hybrids with partial genetic resistance to DON. Use these results with caution as we were not able to evaluate the effects of all possible weather environments on DON production. This trial was conducted at three locations across the state that represent different production regions: Apple Creek, Bucyrus, and South Charleston. Hybrids varied in maturity, so weather conditions may not have been conducive for ear infection and DON production by the fungus Fusarium graminearum during each individual hybrid pollination window, despite using three different environments. All locations had low levels of natural infection across all maturity groups. To increase Gibberella ear rot (GER) development, and consequently, DON contamination of grain, plots were also inoculated at all three locations. DON levels were significantly different between inoculated and naturally infected plots at all locations. Results were summarized, and hybrids are compared, by location and if inoculated or naturally infected. Corn ear infected with Gibberella ear Rot in 2024.

In 2023, a total of 80 hybrids from 8 seed companies were screened; the results are available at http://go.osu.edu/DON2023. While this was only a small subset of the hybrids that are planted in Ohio, the results demonstrated the importance of hybrid selection for achieving low DON levels. Twenty-one of the hybrids entered in 2023 were also in the 2024 screening. All companies that participated had hybrids Corn silking during inoculation with Fusarium Graminearum. that showed potential DON resistance and others that were susceptible.

In 2024, 89 hybrids were submitted from 11 seed companies. Although weather conditions were less favorable for GER development in 2024 than in 2023, statistically significant differences were still observed among hybrids in terms of average levels of DON contamination. These results can be used to select hybrids with natural partial resistance to DON, or at the very minimum, avoid highly susceptible hybrids. While only 21 hybrids were included in both years, comparing hybrid performance across years is encouraged as it represents a wider range of weather conditions. Keep in mind, hybrids with low DON in 2024 are not guaranteed to have low DON in future years or environments However, hybrids with consistently high DON across environments are likely susceptible and should not be planted when possible if DON contamination is a concern for your operation.

The weather conditions at all locations in 2024 deviated from normal. All locations had below-average rainfall during the growing season and above-average temperatures compared to the 10- and 30-year averages. In South Charleston, the month of September received above-average rainfall, with hurricane force wind and rain. Wooster rainfall was about a half inch above-average in May, August, and September, whereas at Bucyrus, rainfall was more than an inch above-average in April and May, but only slightly above average in September. Excessive rainfall in May in Bucyrus created a few emergence challenges. The full weather data for the growing season are summarized in Tables 2 through 4 below. The complete set of monthly weather data is available at: Ohio Corn Performance Test (osu.edu).

Weather conditions during pollination are critical, with infection typically occurring while silks are still wet, and relative humidity >80% with temperatures between 59°F and 86°F.

Table 1 below summarizes DON contamination (in ppm) by hybrid and inoculated and naturally infected treatments at each location. DON values with an asterisk (*) are not statistically different from the lowest average DON level at that location. DON levels at all locations were low, with 54 plots having contamination between the limit of detection (considered equivalent to 0 ppm) at Bucyrus, three at South Charleston and one at Wooster. Only four plots had greater than 1 ppm in Bucyrus, nine in Wooster, and 16 in South Charleston. At Bucyrus, the effect of hybrid on DON contamination was not statistically significant (i.e. contamination was comparable across hybrids) in inoculated plots. However, the hybrid effect on DON contamination was statistically significant in naturally infected plots, meaning that the average level of contamination varied with hybrid. While DON levels were low this year, there are a few trends to look for. For instance, two hybrids had significantly higher DON than other hybrids at all six inoculation treatment by location combinations, while another 8 had statistically higher DON at 4 of the 6 inoculation treatment by location combinations. Thirty-seven hybrids had comparable levels of DON to the least contaminated hybrid at all locations, while another 17 had low DON at all but one inoculation treatment by location combination. When using these results to help with your hybrid selection, look for trends where a hybrid consistently has low DON to increase your chance of selecting those that might have partial genetic resistance.

See full hybrid trial report here.

(Table 1) – DON contamination of 89 hybrids averaged across locations and across plots at each location.

			Inoculated Average DON (ppm)			Natural infection Average DON (ppm)
			South Charleston	Bucyrus	Wooster	South Charleston	Bucyrus	Wooster
Brand	Hybrid	RM	South Charleston	Bucyrus	Wooster	South Charleston	Bucyrus	Wooster
Augusta Seed	A2351	101	0.11*	0.00	0.34*	0.14*	0*	0.18*
Augusta Seed	A2252	102	0.27*	0.14	0.98	0.17*	0.09*	0.93
Augusta Seed	A2357	107	0*	0.09	0.29*	0.24*	0.03*	0.16*
Augusta Seed	A2359	109	0.12*	0.00	0.2*	0.22*	0*	0*
Augusta Seed	A2564	114	0.07*	0.05	0.59*	0.08*	0*	0.49
B&A Genetics	BA24-00 VT2P	100	0.42*	0.05	0.59*	0.57*	0.05*	0.61
B&A Genetics	BA24-03 PCE	103	0.12*	0.06	0.3*	0.16*	0*	0.17*
B&A Genetics	BA22-05 VT2P	105	0.28*	0.13	0.67	0.22*	0.04*	0.47
B&A Genetics	BA26-06 PCE	106	0.35*	0.00	0.16*	0.16*	0*	0.06*
B&A Genetics	BA25-07 PCE	107	1.65	0.04	0.6	0.46*	0.12*	0.37
B&A Genetics	BA26-08 PCE	108	1.2	1.17	1.9	1.6	0.18*	0.73
B&A Genetics	BA23-09 VT2P	109	0.8	0.14	0.17*	0.19*	0.17*	0.33*
B&A Genetics	BA26-10 PCE	110	0.27*	0.00	0.86	0.22*	0.04*	0.42
B&A Genetics	BA25-11 VT2P	111	0.17*	0.06	0.66	0.2*	0.03*	0.53
B&A Genetics	BA20-12 VT2P	112	0.36*	0.11	0.47*	0.58*	0.08*	0.43
B&A Genetics	BA23-12 AA	112	0.25*	0.15	0.59*	1.37	1.45	0.29*
B&A Genetics	BA25-12 VT2P	112	0.1*	0.06	0.3*	0.18*	0.04*	0.33*
B&A Genetics	BA26-12 PCE	112	0.41*	0.00	0.38*	1.1	0*	0.69
B&A Genetics	BA23-14 VT2P	114	1.7	1.07	0.69	1.65	0.06*	1
B&A Genetics	BA26-14 PCE	114	0.12*	0.00	0.35*	0.25*	0.06*	0.25*
B&A Genetics	BA25-16 VT2P	116	1.03	0.33	1.08	3.65	0.54	0.9
Beck's Hybrids	5413Q	104	0.28*	0.00	0.56*	0.18*	0.07*	0.33*
Beck's Hybrids	5794V2P	107	0.16*	0.00	0.04*	0.21*	0*	0.21*
Beck's Hybrids	6184V2P	111	0.09*	0.00	0.27*	0.19*	0*	0.26*
Beck's Hybrids	6216PCE	112	0.27*	0.50	0.77	1.1	0*	0.29*
Beck's Hybrids	6235D1	112	0.26*	0.16	0.54*	0.06*	0.04*	0.11*
Dekalb	DKC48-34RIB	98	0.11*	0.00	0.87	0.19*	0*	0.49
Dekalb	DKC099-11RIB	99	0.29*	0.17	0.2*	0.53*	0.08*	0.62
Dekalb	DKC101-35RIB	101	0.86	0.08	0.67	0.57*	0*	0.27*
Dekalb	DKC102-13RIB	102	0.27*	0.15	0.57*	0.29*	0.05*	0.55
Dekalb	DKC56-26RIB	106	0.37*	0.04	0.27*	0.12*	0.13*	0.11*
Dekalb	DKC56-65RIB	106	0.05*	0.00	0.4*	0.19*	0.05*	0.18*
Dekalb	DKC110-10RIB	110	0.18*	0.05	0.73	0.26*	0.07*	0.48
Dekalb	DKC110-41RIB	110	0.38*	0.05	0.61	0.22*	0*	0.68
Dekalb	DKC63-91RIB	113	0.22*	0.00	0.64	0.2*	0.15*	0.45
Dekalb	DKC64-22RIB	114	0.16*	0.00	0.23*	0.29*	0*	0.13*
Ebberts Field Seeds	7335PC	105	0.43*	0.05	0.31*	0.8	0.04*	0.23*
Ebberts Field Seeds	7557PC	107	0.9*	0.07	0.11*	0.22*	0.03*	0.06*
Ebberts Field Seeds	7209TR	109	0.07*	0.29	0.55*	0.22*	0.09*	0.6
Ebberts Field Seeds	7660PC	110	0.72*	0.05	0.46*	0.47*	0*	0.54
Ebberts Field Seeds	7993PC	113	0.13*	0.00	0.22*	0.33*	0.06*	0.33*
Golden Harvest	G00A97-AA	100	0.17*	0.08	2.27	0.74	0.07*	0.5
Golden Harvest	G00U71-D	100	0.38*	0.13	0.44*	0.18*	0.17*	0.59
Golden Harvest	G01U74-AA	101	0.05*	0.00	0.33*	0.07*	0*	0.25*
Golden Harvest	G03U08-D	103	0.19*	0.08	0.55*	0.44*	0.05*	0.8
Golden Harvest	G03B19-AA	103	0.43*	0.31	0.15*	0.36*	0.1*	0.07*
Golden Harvest	G05U86-DV	105	0.24*	0.00	0.18*	0.3*	0.05*	0.21*
Golden Harvest	G08U00-V	108	0.09*	0.00	0.32*	0.06*	0*	0.25*
Golden Harvest	G10L16-DV	110	0.35*	0.13	0.32*	0.21*	0.04*	0.38
Golden Harvest	G10U97-V	110	0*	0.05	0.24*	0.17*	0*	0.17*
Golden Harvest	G10B61-AA	110	0.13*	0.05	0.32*	0.17*	0.05*	0.24*
Golden Harvest	G11V76-AA	111	0.79	1.10	1.01	0.75	0.55	0.28*
Golden Harvest	G12S75-D	112	0.38*	0.05	0.3*	0.93	0*	0.22*
Golden Harvest	G12U11-AA	112	0.4*	0.13	0.55*	0.42*	0*	0.29*
Golden Harvest	G14B32-DV	114	0.12*	0.07	0.41*	0.17*	0.04*	0.52
Golden Harvest	G15U34-V	115	0.06*	0.00	0.63	0.12*	0*	0.55
LG Seeds	LG48C87VT2RIB	98	0.22*	0.05	0.38*	0.12*	0*	0.52
LG Seeds	LG51C62VT2RIB	101	0.16*	0.00	0.39*	0.15*	0*	0.18*
LG Seeds	LG53C44VT2RIB	103	0.06*	0.00	0.58*	0.08*	0*	0.08*
LG Seeds	LG58C73-3110	108	0.17*	0.04	0.69	0.16*	0.08*	0.28*
LG Seeds	LG59C72VT2RIB	109	0.59	0.18	0.27*	0.47*	0.15*	0.51
LG Seeds	LG59C72 - D	109	0.03*	0.00	0.4*	0.11*	0.05*	0.26*
LG Seeds	LG62C73VT2RIB	112	0.13*	0.05	0.06*	0.17*	0*	0.21*
LG Seeds	LG64C43VT2RIB	114	0.95	0.15	0.87	0.99	0*	0.53
NK Seeds	NK0252-D	102	0.37*	0.06	0.58*	0.17*	0.1*	0.65
NK Seeds	NK0880-V	108	0.04*	0.00	0.18*	0.13*	0*	0.17*
NK Seeds	NK0922-V	109	0.14*	0.06	0.37*	0.64*	0.16*	0.27*
NK Seeds	NK1056-V	110	0*	0.12	0.24*	0.14*	0.16*	0.15*
NK Seeds	NK1188-AA	111	0.61	0.12	0.31*	0.65*	0.77	0.17*
NK Seeds	NK1228-V	112	0.69	0.28	1.13	0.22*	0.24	0.3*
NK Seeds	NK1480-DV	114	0.18*	0.00	0.18*	0.13*	0*	0.26*
PC Seedco	PC 3305	105	0.19*	0.00	0.44*	0.15*	0.15*	0.2*
PC Seedco	PC 8407	107	0.29*	0.05	0.46*	0.23*	0.29	0.34
PC Seedco	PC 5510	110	0.28*	0.06	0.58*	0.89	0.07*	0.82
PC Seedco	PC 2212	112	0.82	0.19	1.03	0.6*	0.05*	0.59
PC Seedco	PC 6313	113	0.37*	0.00	0.49*	0.36*	0.06*	0.22*
Pioneer	P06391PCE	106	1.45	0.26	0.87	1.08	0.08*	0.65
Pioneer	P09312V	109	0.09*	0.05	0.11*	0.06*	0.03*	0.04*
Pioneer	P10811AM	110	0.87	0.16	0.57*	0.76	0.27	0.77
Pioneer	P1136AM	111	0.35*	0.09	1.24	0.36*	0*	0.43
Pioneer	P13777	113	0.99	0.42	0.54*	0.66*	0.36	0.67
Seed Genetics Direct	AGI 4106PWE	106	1.17	0.14	0.38*	0.36*	0.21	0.5
Seed Genetics Direct	AGI 4111PWE	111	0.2*	0.06	0.36*	0.35*	0.04*	0.38
Seed Genetics Direct	Direct 2111 AA	111	0.46*	0.33	1.22	1.95	0.42	0.38
Seed Genetics Direct	Direct 3111-3110	111	0.78	0.26	0.38*	0.79	0.07*	0.24*
Seed Genetics Direct	Direct 2113-3110	113	0.1*	0.10	0.32*	0.19*	0.09*	0.36
Check	Check B	109	0.28*	0.12	0.33*	0.27*	0*	0.35
Check	Check A-2	113	3.45	0.16	0.81	2.3	0.16*	0.6
Check	Check A-1	113	0.86	0.10	0.81	0.92	0.23	2.15

HIGH			3.45	1.17	2.27	3.65	1.45	2.15
AVERAGE			0.41	0.12	0.52	0.47	0.1	0.4
LOW			0	0	0.04	0.06	0	0
LSD .10			0.57	NS	0.55	0.71	0.21	0.33
CV			86.6	149.7	65.4	90.9	157.9	52.9
Numbers with an asterisks (*) are not significantly different from the lowest DON level at the location