Mycostart, Genium, and Revysion Impact on Sweet Corn (Zea mays L.) Growth, Yield, and Disease Occurrence

Abstract

A field trial was conducted in 2025 to determine the corn growing potential of chernozem soils in the sweet corn (ACCENTUATE Var.) grown on at the Institute of Plant Protection, University of Debrecen. The trial followed a randomized complete block design with 6 treatments and 3 replications (18 plots). Each plot was made up of 4 rows of (70 cm row spacing, 20 cm plant spacing, 5 m row length; 100 plants per plot). Planting was done on May 12, 2025, followed by 2 additional irrigations applied through the growing season. The trial was on the following 6 treatments: (T1) MycoStart Bio Myco-prep (40 kg/ha) at planting; (T2) MycoStart Bio + Revysion; (T3) 6 L/ha of Genium plant conditioner at the start and in a later application; (T4) Genium + Revysion; (T5) 1 L/ha of Revysion Fungicides (mefentrifluconazole) at the start and in a later application; and (T6) untreated. For 3 growth characteristics, measurements were taken on August 11, 2025 on 20 randomly selected plants per plot. Measurements were taken for plant height (cm), weight of the cob (g), and length of the cob (cm). Disease assessments were conducted on August 7th and included every plant, and expressions were given in. Disease assessments included naturally occurring doses of the 2 diseases corn smut (Ustilago maydis) and Fusarium cob mold (Fusarium spp.). The incidence of disease was generally scarce in the 2025 season, which may have been exacerbated by the excessive heat in June, which is also unfavorable for the growth of pathogens. Nevertheless, significant differences emerged. The MycoStart Bio treatments yielded the best crop height (T1: 182.17cm) but showed no significant differences in their cob attributes. In terms of cob quality, treatments with Genium significantly outperformed treatments with other additives. The best cob quality was 18.75 cm (T3 Genium, 0.67% corn smut) and the heaviest cob (T4 Genium + Revysion, 252.75g) along with the least Fusarium infection (0.36% Fusarium) and corn smut (5.83% corn smut). Fusarium also showed the least infection within the control group (1.05% Fusarium) with the least corn smut (5.83% corn smut). The untreated control group presented the least yield cob attributes and the greatest infection rates of the diseases.