OSU Corn Deoxynivalenol, DON, (Vomitoxin) Resistance Screening Program-2025

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With support from Ohio Corn and Wheat through the Corn Check Off, OSU conducted its third 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. Two 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 not significantly different between inoculated and naturally infected plots across locations. Results were summarized, and hybrids were compared by location.  

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 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 found at http://go.osu.edu/DON2024

For 2025, 90 hybrids were submitted from 11 seed companies. Weather conditions varied significantly, with all locations experiencing late-season drought. Two locations had very low DON levels, yet statistically significant differences remained between hybrids at these locations. The third location has a broad range of DON levels from 0.08-21.75 ppm. Across all three locations, 33 hybrids were statistically indistinguishable from the lowest hybrid at all locations in terms 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. Fifty-six hybrids have been included in the trial for more than one year. Comparing hybrid performance across years is encouraged as it represents a wider range of weather conditions. Keep in mind, hybrids with low DON in 2025 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 2025 deviated from normal. During the growing season, Bucyrus received 1 inch below normal rainfall; the other two locations received above-normal rainfall. All 3 locations had below-average rainfall and temperatures in August and September. The average relative humidity at Bucyrus was higher in August and September than at the other locations.  The full weather data for the growing season are summarized in Tables 2-4 below.  The complete set of monthly weather data is available at: Ohio Corn Performance Test  

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

Table 1 below summarizes DON contamination (in ppm) by hybrid. The inoculated and natural infection treatments were analyzed together instead of as separate, as inoculation was not significant. DON values with an asterisk (*) are not statistically different from the lowest average DON level at that location. The lowest DON average was at the South Charleston location, where 38 hybrids had all plots below the DON detection limits. Ten hybrids have statistically higher DON levels than the lowest hybrid, and two hybrids are statistically the same as the highest hybrid. Wooster also had low levels with 50 hybrids, being statistically the same as the lowest hybrids, which have non-detectable levels of DON. However, only one hybrid had all plots with a non-detectable DON level. The highest hybrid plot average DON was only 0.88 ppm; however, no other hybrids were statistically equivalent to this hybrid. While a different hybrid had the highest average DON in Bucyrus, the highest average DON hybrid in Wooster and South Charleston was the same, ranking 2nd highest in Bucyrus. DON levels in Bucyrus were much higher, with no hybrids having non-detectable DON levels across all plots. The LSD was much higher in Bucyrus at 1.28 ppm, leading to 59 hybrids being the same as the lowest hybrids. 19 hybrids had an average DON level of 2 ppm or higher.  

(Table 1) – DON contamination of 90 hybrids averaged across locations and across plots at each location.

Weather data Planting to Harvest

(Table 2) Bucyrus weather data

Planting date: May 19^th

Harvest date: November 11^th

 (Table 3) Wooster (Apple Creek)

Planting date:  June 5^th   

Harvest date:  November 24^th  

(Table 4) South Charleston

Planting date: May 3^rd  

Harvest date: October 27^th  

Additional Corn Vomitoxin management information available at http://go.osu.edu/Vomitoxin

Research sponsored by Ohio Corn Farmers 

"The presentation of results in this report does not imply endorsement of any hybrid by The Ohio State University."