Corn is the one of the most important crops in Serbia. Corn is grown on 1.200.000 hectares. It is susceptible to a number of ear and kernel rots, some of which are widely distributed and can cause significant damage in humid areas. Ear and kernel rots can reduce yield, quality and feed value of grain. Toxins produced by the fungi in corn can also have serious implications to the end use of the grain. Fungi belonging to the genus Fusarium are the most significant fungi which can cause corn ear and kernel rots. The aim of this paper is to test health of mercantile maize seed which belong to 3 different hybrids (PR 34N43, PR 36K67 and PR 37N01). Seed health testing was done using filter paper and nutritive media (PDA) method. The weather during vegetation period (April-October) was very variable. Total rainfall amount for Sombor for that period in Sombor area was 744 mm. Fungi from genera Fusarium , Penicillium , Aspergillus and Alternaria were isolated from tested corn seed by both methods. No significant differences were found between tested hybrids in the level of seed contamination. Two species from the genus Fusarium were found in the tested corn samples F. graminearum and F. moniliforme . These species are some of the most common on corn in Serbia. Tested hybrids which belong to different FAO maturity groups showed differences in susceptibility to ear and kernel rot. Although the observed percent of Fusarium species was from 5.6-9.7% there is no significant difference between yield of tested hybrids. But if the infection potential is present, during storage condition (if the conditions in the storage are not optimal) sever seed contamination could appear. So, the next step is monitoring of mycotoxins production of isolated species, in the first place the two Fusarium species and Penicillium and Aspergillus .

mycoflora, corn seed, Fusarium spp., yield, meteorological conditions,

Presentation: oral