Canada Proline Corn Research

Trial Objective

• Demonstrate that Proline^® 480 SC Foliar Fungicide applied when corn is silking helps suppress the development of the disease, Fusarium graminearum (Gibberella zeae), which can produce the mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON or vomitoxin).
• Demonstrate that in the presence of Fusarium graminearum (Gibberella zeae), potential yield can be maintained or have a positive advantage when corn plants are treated with Proline^® 480 SC Foliar Fungicide compared to non-treated corn plants.

Research Site Details

• Mapping Options
  • Map in Climate FieldView™ at planting.
  • Have summer assistant walk the field outline with a Climate backpack.
• Proline^® 480 SC Foliar Fungicide Application
  • Map spraying area with Climate FieldView™.
  • If possible, leave at least two untreated passes in the middle of the field (inconsecutive about 1/3 to 2/3 of the field).
  • Spray passes should align with combine width.
  • If plot cooperator is spraying to control western bean cutworm (WBC), then the section of the field with the trial should also include the insecticide application.
  • Use 420 ml/ha (170 ml/acre) of Proline^® 480 SC Foliar Fungicide in a minimum water volume of 175 ml/ha (19 gal/acre). A jug of Proline^® 480 SC Foliar Fungicide 5.1 L covers 12.14 hectares (30 acres).
  • No strict timing for application; however, it should be applied between full silk and browning of silk. Can be sprayed when plot cooperators spray for WBC.
• Evaluations
  • Use drone flights to help capture interesting observations.
  • Optional – Capture fungal disease severity (FSEV) rating at R3 to R5 growth stages (Figure 1).
  • Capture staygreen (STGRN) (Figure 2) and Gibberella ear rot severity (ERSR) (Figure 3) ratings at R5 growth stage.
  • At harvest, capture ratings for root lodging (RTLP), stalk lodging (STLP), intactness (INT), average yield (YLD), percent moisture content (MST), and test weight (TWT).
  • Collect grain samples at harvest for DON and Zearalenone mycotoxin laboratory analysis (MDIC).
  • Ratings and percentages are assessed and recorded by walking the field and reviewing representative areas for each treatment.

Understanding the Results

• In these field scale trials, Proline^® 480 SC Foliar Fungicide showed positive results for staygreen, average yield increase, reduction in Gibberella ear rot, and DON suppression (Figures 4 thru 9).
• There was minimal difference in moisture content between the treated and untreated samples (+0.24% greater for Proline^® 480 SC Foliar Funigicide treated corn).
• Gibberella ear rot infections in 2019 were very low to none which resulted in very low DON levels. Levels of both were higher in 2020.
• Compared to untreated plots, the average estimated yield difference at 18 Eastern Canada locations (2019 and 2020) was +2.3 bu/acre when Proline^® 480 SC Foliar Fungicide was used and Gibberella ear rot pressure was absent.
• Compared to untreated plots, the average DON reduction in 18 Eastern Canada locations (2019 and 2020) was 60% when Proline^® 480 SC Foliar Fungicide was used.
• Compared to the untreated check, the average estimated yield difference was +4.8 bu/acre in 5 Eastern Canada locations (2019 and 2020) when Proline^® 480 SC Foliar Fungicide was used and Gibberella ear rot pressure was present.
• When Gibberella ear rot pressure was present, the average estimated development of DON in 6 Eastern Canada locations (2019 and 2020) was 1.04 ppm or 55.6% less when the corn was treated with Proline^® 480 SC Foliar Fungicide compared to the untreated check.

Key Learnings

• In these trials, applying Proline^® 480 SC foliar fungicide at silking provided an average increase in yield of 2.3 bu/acre compared to untreated corn.
• Proline^® 480 SC Foliar Fungicide demonstrated an average yield increase of 4.8 bu/acre and 55.6% decrease in DON development in these trials when Gibberella ear rot pressure was present.