The inaugural 2023 Ontario corn hybrid DON screening trial report is available here.
Ontario corn hybrid DON screening trials were initiated by the Ontario Corn Committee in 2019
following high DON levels in the 2018 corn crop. Hybrid susceptibility is one of the greatest factors
influencing DON accumulation in corn (second only to weather), and the greatest factor that can be
controlled by agronomic practices (Hooker and Schaafsma, 2005). Ontario growers can reduce DON risks
through hybrid selection and management and have asked for DON hybrid testing for many years.
Starting in 2019, the Ontario Corn Committee (OCC) refined protocols for testing hybrid sensitivity to
DON accumulation with confidence based on an assessed risk. This inaugural report provides a risk
assessment of hybrids entered in the 2023 trials, along with a multi‐year assessment on the same
hybrids if data were available.
Hybrids were entered voluntarily by seed companies and all hybrids are compared against a “check”
hybrid known to be highly sensitive to Gibberella Ear Rot and DON accumulation. Hybrid results are
displayed as an index value relative to this high check hybrid. This data serves as a relative risk
assessment of hybrids that can be used with other information sources (e.g., seed company information,
field trial results, etc.) to improve hybrid decisions.
A sincere thank you to Dr. Dave Hooker, University of Guelph and Albert Tenuta, OMAFRA for leading
this project and for the support from corn hybrid seed companies for voluntarily participating in this
trial. Thanks to those who have provided financial support to allow these trials to be conducted
(OMAFRA, Canadian Agricultural Partnership and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Grain
Farmers of Ontario, Greenfield Ethanol, Ingredion, Ontario Pork, Suncor and participating seed
companies including Brevant, Country Farm Seeds, CROPLAN, Dekalb, Maizex Seeds, NK Brand, Pioneer,
Pride Seeds and Saatbau)
About the Ontario Corn Committee
The Ontario Corn Committee is made up of representatives from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada;
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; University of Guelph; Ontario Soil and Crop
Improvement Association; Grain Farmers of Ontario; Ontario Agri Business Association; Ontario Certified
Crop Advisors and Seeds Canada. Hybrid tests are conducted each year by the following cooperating
agencies: University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus; University of Guelph Plant Agriculture Department;
University of Guelph, Winchester Research Station; Kent Ag Research Inc.; and Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada (Ottawa).
For more information, contact:
Scott Banks
Secretary, Ontario Corn Committee
613-407-5996
eastcropper@gmail.com