Evaluación de la eficacia de fungicidas en el control de Fusarium spp. en el híbrido de maíz DK-8023

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of fungicides in controlling Fusarium spp. in the DK-8023 corn hybrid. A completely randomized block design with 11 treatments and 3 replications was used. The sample consisted of plants exhibiting symptoms of the disease. To detect significant differences between treatments, Tukey's test at the 5% level was applied using the Infostat statistical software. The variables evaluated were: percentage of incidence, severity according to a scale (at 5, 7, and 15 days), percentage of severity, control efficacy, and economic analysis. Incidence and severity were significantly higher in the untreated control, demonstrating the high impact of Fusarium spp. under field conditions in corn cultivation. The highest average efficacy was observed in the Epoxiconazole-Kresoxim-Methyl treatment (0.50 L/ha) at 82.44%, followed by the Pyraclostrobin-Epoxiconazole treatment (0.50 L/ha) at 80.64%, both statistically superior to the other treatments. The lowest average efficacy was obtained in the control group (0.00%). This demonstrates that timely applications of triazole and strobilurin mixtures are highly effective in reducing the incidence and severity of Fusarium spp. in corn. The most effective treatment (Epoxiconazole-Kresoxim-Methyl, 0.50 L/ha) had the highest application cost ($116.00/ha), but its effectiveness justifies the investment under high pathogen pressure. Fungicides such as difenoconazole (0.35 L/ha), with lower cost ($82.00/ha) and moderate efficacy, can be viable alternatives for farmers with limited resources or in areas with low initial incidence.