The ear rot severity of 15 maize hybrids and the accumulation of fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2), beauvericin (BEA) and fusaproliferin (FP) after artificial inoculation in the field with a toxigenic strain of Fusarium proliferatum has been investigated in Poland during the seasons 1996, 1997 and 1999. The year of inoculation proved a significant influence on ear infection degree and mycotoxin accumulation. Inoculated ears contained 11–71% Fusarium-damaged kernels. Mycotoxins were detected in all hybrids at levels of 18–231.9 μg g−1 for FB1, 0.4–26.5 μg g−1 for FB2, 0.2–19.6 μg g−1 for BEA and 0.3–6.4 μg g−1 for FP. Mycotoxin concentrations were higher in Fusarium-damaged kernels (up to 361.5, 41.1, 44.3 and 10.0 μg g−1 for FB1, FB2, BEA and FP, respectively) than in healthy-looking kernels (up to 26.0, 2.3, 1.9, 0.3 μg g−1 for FB1, FB2, BEA and FP, respectively). All hybrids showed high susceptibility to the fungal infection and high toxin content in kernels during the three years of investigation.
